Film Director Siya Sityana
CREATIVE XHOSA CHILD
Often we see full productions and hardly question who is behind these staggering productions on our screens. This month we are bringing you a remarkable film director by the name of Siyasanga Bongani Sityana, who is known as "Siya Sityana" and many call him "Director S". The gentleman was born and bred in Port Elizabeth, currently known as Gqeberha – also grew up in Gqeberha for a while but mostly spent his time in a small town called Peddie, in the Eastern Cape. "I graduated In Film and Television, majored in Script writing and directing at Cape Town International Film School 2004. Currently, due to the nature of my work and bookings I am floating between Johannesburg and Cape Town as far as residence is concerned", he said. When did you start with Filming/Directing and what inspired you to go for it? “I started working on film sets right after my graduation in 2005. I
started off as a PRODUCTION PA then as SET PA, two years later I progressed into Assistant Director for international and local directors. Three years from there I started directing full-time for Local Films, TV Series and TV Commercials. My inspiration for visual storytelling comes from the blood, I am a grandson to one of the greatest Xhosa Novelists (AMS SITYANA) whose books are all over our universities. I read some of his books and listened to some of his radio dramas, from there I knew I wanted to tell stories but visual stories. That passion and gift is what led me to where I am to date”. 18
