Themba Sibeko brings over 25 years of experience in scripted content development and physical film and television production with over 100 credits both within South Africa and internationally. His extensive career includes a 15-year tenure in the USA. Starting out in the New York City Music Video scene in the 1990’s and then as a gun for hire line producer. Sibeko had the opportunity to work with such luminaries as Hollywood actor/Director Bill Duke (A Rage in Harlem, Deep Cover, Sister Act 2), Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon, The Color Purple), the late Ruby Dee (American Gangster, Do The Right Thing), Oscar Winner , the late Isaac Hayes (Shaft) to name a few. In 2000, Sibeko returned to South Africa permanently. In 2002, Themba was appointed as the founding CEO of the Gauteng Film Office (GFO), now known as the Gauteng Film Commission. Under his leadership from 2002 to 2005, the GFO launched training programs for previously disadvantaged youth, providing them with opportunities on major Hollywood productions. Notably, Themba played a pivotal role in securing financing from the South African State Bank Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) for the Oscar-nominated film “Hotel Rwanda and the launch of CNBC Africa.”
Themba’s consultancy expertise was sought after for Neil Blomkamp’s Oscar-nominated sci-fi hit “District 9,” executive produced by Peter Jackson, in 2008. As a writer and producer, he created the prime-time mini-series “Vuka Mawulele” for MNET’s Mzansi Magic Channel 161 in August 2013, which received top ratings among Lokshin Bi-Scope Mini-series. In 2016, Themba founded Ziya Pictures and wrote and co-produced an eight-part television mini-series “The Alliance,” which aired on eTV and captured a significant market share with an estimated 1.5 million households tuning in. That same year, he co-produced the feature film “Actually Quite A Lot”, now available on Netflix. Themba’s strategic focus has been on analyzing global trends to stimulate the creative industries sector and devising interventions for local film and television entities within the value chain. In January 2022, Themba was appointed as the Director of Enterprise Development for Cape Town-based Light Seed VFX (www.lightseed.co.za), with credits including “District 9”, “Eye In The Sky”, “Chronicle”, Marvel’s “Fantastic Four”, and the “Roots” TV mini-series. Mr. Sibeko oversees the First VFX Incubator in South Africa. A partnership between Lightseed VFX (www.Lightseed.co.za ) and SACII(South African Creative Industries Incubator) that currently trains 40 Students from surrounding Townships in Cape Town and Pretoria via Online Training. The Incubator equips trainees with the latest Bleeding Edge tools in Post Production and Visual Effects. Currently Themba, as Senior Producer and ShowRunner, has a Slate of Projects through his own company, Ziya Pictures (www.ZiyaPictures.com), and has secured Co-Production Agreements with various international markets. Additionally, he holds positions as a Voice Over International Ambassador to SOVAS (https://sovas.org), a member of the International Emmys. Mr. Sibeko is a founding member of the Independent Black Filmmakers Collective (www.ibfc.co.za). He currently resides in Cape Town with his wife and three children. www.IDMB.com
