Thati Pele

Biography

Thati Pele is a South African director whose journey into filmmaking is as compelling as her work. After earning a degree in mathematics and statistics from the University of Cape Town and a brief stint in marketing, she ventured to South Korea to teach English. There, a chance encounter led her to a role in the vampire film Thirst, igniting her passion for cinema. Encouraged by the film's director, she pursued a master's in filmmaking at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Her short film Lerato garnered accolades, including Best Director at the New York Fusion Film Festival and the New Talent prize at CICLOPE Africa 2019. Thati's directorial prowess is evident in Netflix series like Blood & Water and Savage Beauty. She's also made a mark in the commercial world, directing campaigns for brands such as Volkswagen, Spotify, and McDonald's. Now based in Johannesburg and represented by Patriot Films, Thati seamlessly blends analytical precision with creative storytelling, bringing depth and authenticity to every project she undertakes.

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