2019

Jannous Nkululeko Aukema is a filmmaker and composer based in South Africa. He has worked in a wide range of genres and forms, from narrative fiction to documentary, theatre and multi-media installation. His past projects as writer-director include the short narrative film, Until The Silence Comes (2018 - 24min), and the award winning short documentary film Deliver Me (2021 - 25min, Best Short Film - African Huma Rights Film Festival). His films have screened at a variety of prestigious film festivals, including Aesthetica Short Film Festival, Encounters South African International Documentary Festival and Shnit International Short Film Festival amongst others. 

As an interdisciplinary artist, his sonic work alongside Haroon Gunnn-Salie received critical acclaim, including winning the coveted FNB Art Prize for his sonic multimedia installation work, 'Senzenina' (2018 - 16min), which explores the 2012 Marikana massacre of miners through a sonic narrative combining archive, choral and string composition and sound design. 

His soundtrack composition work includes numerous theatre shows and films. Film composition includes projects like Everything Must Fall, which focuses on the Wits Student movement of 2015-17 (IDFA 2018, Vaclav Havel Award - One World Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, Best Documentary Film - Cape Town International Film Festival, South African Film and Television Award SAFTA for best documentary film), How To Steal A Country (2019), which focuses on the state capture of South Africa, and has already screened at IDFA (2019) and numerous other film festivals, as well as winning a SAFTA for best sound and best documentary. He has also worked on short narrative fiction films such as Ekstasis (2020), which has screened at several prestigious film festivals, picking up awards including Best Director at the New Renaissance Film Festival.

Sound composition for Theatre productions include A Faint Patch of Light (2019, National Arts Festival Ovation Award), Klippies Van Die Grond (2019, nominated for two Kanna awards at KKNK 2019, award for best actor at Suidoosterfees, 2019), and A Howl In Makhanda (2020, won Best Original Composition - Fleur du Cap).

Jannous is currently developing his first feature film project, whilst continuing his work as a sound artist in many different platforms. His work pivots around the themes of ancestral memory, social-justice, migration and post-coloniality.

FULL CATALGOUE OF JANNOUS AUKEMA’S SOUND WORK

2023 - When We Awake (Theatre Production)

2022 - Reflections In The Mirror (Documentary Feature Film)

2022 - ‘n Doop (Short Film Fiction)

2022 - Bodhi Is Light (Documentary Feature Film)

2022 - Aghulasvlakte (Theatre Production, KKNK, Suidoosterfees)

2021 - Serpentine Galleries - London (Short Film “Sumayya Vally”)

2021 - Collective Amnesia | The Audio Experience (Sound Design Adaptation - Koleka Putuma)

2020 - A Howl From Makhanda (Theatre Production, Magnet Theatre)

2020 - The New Normal (Online Game)

2020 - Ekstasies (Short Film)

2020 - Jessie En Die Maan (Theatre Production, KKNK, Suidoosterfees)

2019 - How To Steal A Country (Documentary Feature Film, IDFA)

2019 - A Faint Patch of Light (Theatre Production, National Arts Festival Ovation Award)

2019 - Klippies Van Die Grond (Theatre Production, KKNK, Kyknet)

2019 - Magic Xmas Tree (Children’s Theatre Production, Cavendish)

2018 - Everything Must Fall (Documentary Feature Film, IDFA, Vaclav Award, Best Documentary CTIFM, SAFTA for Best Documentary)

2018 - Senzenina (5.1 Multimedia Sound Installation, FNB Art Prize)

2018 - Until The Silence Comes (Short Film, Aesthetic Short Film Festival, Shnit Short Film Festival)

2018 - Songs For Sabotage, Senzenina (Multimedia Sound Installation, New Museum, USA)

2018 - The Jaguar’s Daughter (Short Film, Shnit Short Film Festival)

2018 - Mayfair (Feature Film, Co-Collaborator Philip Miller)

2017 - The Giant Is Falling (Documentary Feature Film, Best Documentary Film, JFF)

2017 - Red Aloes (Theatre Production, Magnet Theatre)

2016 - Brothers (Short Documentary Film)

2016 - USA Faith 47 (Short Experimental Film)

2015 - Hong Kong Faith 47 (Short Experimental Film)