The isiZulu Scriptwriting Workshop is a three-week hybrid programme aimed at developing the skills of emerging scriptwriters. Five scriptwriters, with short film projects, will be selected to work with a script consultant to further develop their stories.

The programme will take place as follows:

Online: Weekdays 30 June – 11 July 2025 (09:00 – 17:00)

In-person: 21 – 25 July 2025 at the Belaire Suites Hotel (09:00 – 16:00)

The workshop will be led by UKZN alumnus, Zunaid Mansoor, who earned two degrees cum laude at UKZN before passing the Attorneys Admission Exams, following which he became the country’s top Fulbright Scholar to the U.S. where he graduated with an MFA from Oscar-winning film school, Chapman University. He worked in Hollywood for The Bold and The Beautiful and for Oscar-nominated producer Alex Rose. Zunaid is a dedicated story consultant, script editor and screenwriting educator who has, over 15 years, mentored some 10 000 students/mentees as a lecturer, and script editor commissioned by the NFVF, KZN Tourism and Film Authority and the Durban Film Office. From live-action to animation, documentary to literary fiction, he’s helped students win major awards locally and internationally, including SAFTAs, the Simon Sabela, NEFTI, WGSA Muse, and the Student Academy Award. His students are alumni of Berlinale Talents, Talents Durban, MultiChoice Talent Factory, Mandela Rhodes Scholarship, and the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans. He is a SAFTA, Simon Sabela and WGSA judge, and served on the Oscar selection committee for South Africa.