Miselwa ‘Missy’ Ngamlana is an award-winning queer filmmaker, writer, and director from Khayelitsha. A graduate of AFDA Cape Town, she began her creative journey in live performance before transitioning behind the camera in pursuit of greater creative agency. Her work is rooted in lived experience, drawing from her own life and community to craft emotionally resonant narratives that challenge social norms and amplify underrepresented voices. Her short film Eruption won Best Diaspora at the European Film Festival Zimbabwe (2023), announcing her as a distinctive new voice in African cinema. Her directorial debut, Blind Spots, premiered in competition for Best Short Film at the Joburg Film Festival (2025), where she was selected by the festival to represent South Africa in an episode of CNN Africas: Avant Garde. The film went on to win Best LGBTQ Short Film at FAME Shorts 2025, it received a representation for LGBTIQIA+ Inclusive Award nomination at FAME Week 2025, and secured both the Jury Award and Audience Award at the Bloo Grape Awards 2025. Blind Spots continues to screen on the international festival circuit. Missy is currently in post-production on her sophomore short film, Perception, slated to premiere at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) 2026. She was also selected for the DFM Access Programme 2025 with her developing feature film Xola, further cementing her position as one of South Africa’s most promising emerging filmmakers. In addition to her creative practice, Missy has worked as a Casting Coordinator on major productions including Queen Modjadji and the international feature Uhlanjululo, experiences that have deepened her understanding of production processes, collaboration, and leadership within large-scale film environments.