News, views and reviews this week as Gino casts his eye over what's happening on the local scene in the world of TV and Film. First up, some big news. Les Français sont ici! - the French are here! In a major shift in Africa’s entertainment landscape, following regulatory approval and realignments with local broadcasting laws, French media giant CANAL+ has officially completed its buy out of South Africa’s pay-TV leader, Multichoice. The deal marks one of the most significant forei...

There are many aspects to Film and TV production and usually people specilalise in one particular discipline, either in front of the camera or behind it. Occasionally you come across one of those who doesn't "stick to the script" and does something of everything. One such is Kagiso Latane. Director, Editor, Scriptwriter, Photographer, Voice Artist and Actor, Kagiso joined Gino, via a somewhat less than perfect internet Zoom call, to talk about his start in the industry and his constant drive ...

Showmax recently dropped the trailer for Season 3 of Youngins, which holds the record for the most first-day views of any series on the African streamer since its relaunch. And you don't have long to wait - its happening this Friday. Gino got the chance to chat to the talent behind the drama’s dynamic casting, actress and casting director, Keneilwe Matidze. Keneilwe is no newcomer when it comes to Showmax Originals, as she cast Adulting, Outlaws, and Law, Love & Betrayal, among others. In...

Bringing it home this week! In this episode Gino turns his attention to what's coming up in Jozi. Each year, thousands of young South Africans come together to explore career paths in animation, visual storytelling, gaming, VFX, and tech. And where do they do this? AVIJOZI, of course. What's that, we hear you say! AVIJOZI is the brainchild of one Nosipho Maketo-van den Bragt. After initially pursuing a career as a lawyer, Nosipho discovered her true calling was to apply her legal ...

In our bid to bring you all the best from the African diaspora as well as what's happening in your own backyard, this ep sees Gino reach out to L.A. to chat via Zoom, to Tendayi Nyeke, writer, director and producer of the brand new comedy, Loved Out. Born in Zimbabwe and having lived and worked in Australia, the UK, and South Africa, Tendayi Nyeke's producing work has been nominated for South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) in multiple genres. Also, a former Writer's Guild of SA co...

When it comes to movies, everyone knows who the actors are, but how much thought goes into who actually decided they would be right for the role? Not much, we guess. Well, this ep is going to change all that. Welcome to the "Queen of Casting", Christa Schamberger. Following last weeks chat with the writers/producers of Khaki Fever, it seems only right for Gino to talk to the lady behind the actors. Just how difficult was it finding actors who could do nudity but could also do comedy - not as ...

Game rangers getting into the bush! However you want to read that, that is what this week's episode is all about. Just days before it debuts at kykNet's Silverskerm, Gino joins the writing/production team and real-life couple Brett Michael Innes and Nick Ahlers via Zoom, to talk about Showmax's new raunchy bush romp Khaki Fever. Set in a game lodge with more sexual tension than a high-school romance, Khaki Fever follows a group of buff game rangers who set up a season-long challenge: wh...

Welcome to this episode of ACP and the latest in news, views and reviews from Gino's couch, but first BIG news! We are making it even easier to get your Couch Potato fix. We are now happening on YouTube, and you can get real-time updates and reviews as they happen on our brand new WhatsApp channel. Look out for Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews. Local news sees the launch of a brand new family intervention show where family members confront each other about underlying issues that have cause...

When we think of East London, many of us think of the motor industry. What we don't think of is culture, but that is all about to change with the inaugural Cultured Roots Film Festival taking place in the first week of September. The festival celebrates African identity, heritage, and innovation through film—rooted in the cultural heart of East London in the Eastern Cape. ACP caught up with the festival's director, Sivuyiswe Giba, over Zoom, about the what, why, where and when, as well as her...

ACP has had many online conversations, both nationally and internationally, but this episode is a first; our very first Zoom chat to China. This week Gino talks to fellow APVA winner John Paul Rugaba about his Sangyin Podcast. JP is busy studying at the Central China Normal University (CCNU) in Wuhan in Central China, where he is one of an international student population of about 700, spread across various disciplines. He started the Sangyin Podcast in August 2022, with the goal of bec...

As the schools go back, it was time for Gino to brush up on his ABC's. Not his schoolwork, but the notorious serial murderer of the 90s, dubbed "The ABC Killer". In 1995, journalist Tamsen de Beer was working the night shift at The Star newspaper when she got a call from someone claiming to be South Africa’s most prolific serial killer, a man who would go on to be convicted of killing nearly 40 women in the space of just over a year. Today, that man is serving 2 410 years in prison.&nbs...

Welcome to African Couch Potato once more. This week Gino looks at what's going down on the local scene, which includes a new movie set in Durban about a group of homeless men surving on society's fringes. Staying in Durban, it's part 2 of the latest Housewives Reunion. We reached out on the socials and asked what you thought, well, here are some of your responses. We take a look at a couple of movies and there is news of special e-Visas that are designed to facilitate film production, confer...

Two seasons done, two years of African Couch Potato! So, what have we done? Gino looks back over some of the highlights of the last two years before getting into what's happening on the local scene. Season 5 of the Real Housewives of Durban came to an end last month and next up is The Reunion. From there we head in a direction we bet you never imagined - K-Drama in isiZulu. Yep, it's a thing! Finally, a couple of reviews: The Old Guard 2 - Andy leads immortal warriors against a powerful...

What do you think? let us know Bella Alexandras, a 15 -year-old South African actress, singer, and model, is rapidly carving out an undeniable presence across the global entertainment landscape. Gino managed to get a quick half hour out of her busy schedule to chat to her via a somewhat wobbly link to Paris, France. With a CV that most performers would die for, Bella recently made waves at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, further nailing her status as a talent to keep an eye on. ACP chatted to ...

What do you think? let us know Welcome to African Couch Potato, the #1 spot for the latest from the world of film and TV and African excellence. Kickin' off with acclaimed actor Idris Elba, who at a recent event in London noted the lack of cinemas across the African continent. "I want to build the African Odeon. . . the cinema experience that we have all gone through should be experienced by a new generation, I don’t think it should all be on a phone." Next up, find out how Jo'Burg born 15 ye...

What do you think? let us know There's a new superhero coming to Showmax! Iyanu. Iyanu is a teenage orphan girl who discovers she has divine powers and a destiny far greater than she ever imagined, one that involves saving the ancient kingdom of Yorubaland. The animated series is adapted from Nigerian creator Roye Okupe’s popular graphic novel series, Iyanu: Child of Wonder, published by Dark Horse Comics, the powerhouse behind The Umbrella Academy and Hellboy comics. After its US launc...

What do you think? let us know Here we are in June, so what better time of the year to talk about Christmas? But not just presents, tinsel and partying, this is about a Christmas slasher, coming from the pen of one Mpho Nkoana. Mpho is a passionate writer and an emerging talent in the film industry and ACP managed to grab him for a quick chat. During his three-year diploma in motion picture production at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Mpho wrote a short thriller called Final Girl...

What do you think? let us know A mixed bag, this episode, as we mourn the passing of a local star, take a look at what is happening with cinemas, drop a couple of reviews and celebrate the arrival of an award. ACP was saddened to hear of the passing of actor Presley Chweneyagae, who shot to fame with the Oscar winning movie Tsotsi. Gino took his kids to the cinema and asks the question, "What is the future of cinemas?" Rising costs and only a handful of family titles due for release&nbs...

What do you think? let us know Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is: instagram.com/africancouchpotato twitter.com/africancouchpot gino.arlechino@gmail.com https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA) Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting ted@aten.co.za Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay © SANTE MEDIA 2025

What do you think? let us know A lot of us came across Brandon Auret's LinkedIN video where he spoke about foreign films, the importance of co-productions and how Donald Trump is throwing his toys when it comes to the American film industry. Award-winning actor and filmmaker, Brandon, is best known for his roles on Elysium, District 9, Chappie and popular soapie, Isidingo. He has called on Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, to use Trump’s proposed 100% tariffs on film...