MEET THE PARTICIPANTS: NEWF x Drik exchange

19 – 24 JANUARY 2025 | Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

Meet the Drik Team

// Adit Dewan

Adit Dewan is a filmmaker, film programmer and curator from Bangladesh. He belongs to the Chakma indigenous community of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. He is a co-founder and currently the director of the Hill Film Festival and HFF School of Film and Visual Arts. He is also working as the Programme Curator of the SHALA_Neighbourhood Art Space. He is a recipient of the Seed Award from the Prince Claus Fund, Netherlands and received CISA Fellowship from Goethe-Institut New Delhi and Khoj International Artist’s Association. His curatorial practice focuses on indigenous language, culture and politics of Bangladesh and looks for the meaning, power dynamics, existence etc. combining the human, animal and natural worlds. Not Only the Ants’ Story (2024) is his recent film.

// Habibul Haque

Habib has over 20 years of experience in photography and is a Photographer at Drik Picture Library Ltd. His work focuses on human rights, the environment, and culture, encouraging audiences to challenge misconceptions and adopt creative, spiritual perspectives on life. With a Master’s in Psychology, Habib transitioned to photography and has since mastered non-linear video editing and interactive multimedia content creation. His photographs have been featured globally in newspapers, magazines, books, calendars, and commercial projects. They have also appeared in numerous publications by national and international NGOs and commercial entities.

// Suman Paul

Suman Paul, a documentary photographer, explores the human condition through social, political, cultural, and environmental contexts. Born in Kutubdia, Cox’s Bazar, his passion for photography stems from a deep sense of responsibility toward humanity and his country. A graduate of Pathshala-South Asian Media Institute, Suman’s work highlights marginalised communities, including people with disabilities, mental health patients, and Rohingya refugees. He documents fishermen’s lifestyles, particularly shark hunters, and addresses climate change’s impact on human life. His projects, such as the Sufi dance in Egypt and the July Uprising 2024, showcase his diverse interests and tireless dedication. Suman believes that travel enriches knowledge and experience, fuelling his commitment to portraying the lives of underprivileged communities.

// Tapash Paul

Born in Bangladesh in 1986, Tapash Paul is a visual artist who uses photography and filmmaking to address critical social and political issues. He holds a BA in Photography from Pathshala–South Asian Media Academy (2009) and has over a decade of experience blending technical expertise with creative vision. As team leader of Drik Bangladesh's Audio-Visual Department, Tapash oversees the creation of impactful content, collaborating with organisations such as the UN, UNICEF, WaterAid, and BRAC. His roles as producer, director, and cinematographer ensure projects align with their vision, focusing on socially and politically sensitive themes. Since 2013, Tapash has also been a photographer at Drik Picture Library, creating visuals for NGOs and corporate clients on issues like climate change, disaster management, and health. His work has been featured in exhibitions and reports globally.

// Zabid Al Muttaki

Zabid Al Muttaki is a skilled video editor and multimedia storyteller with over five years of experience creating compelling visual narratives. With a passion for transforming ideas into immersive experiences, he has collaborated with organisations such as WaterAid, UNICEF, Care Bangladesh, and the World Bank, delivering impactful documentaries, commercials, and promotional films that resonate with audiences. Expert in tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and DaVinci Resolve, Zabid combines technical precision with creative vision. His skills extend to pre-production, where he designs shots and envisions the emotional essence of each project. Zabid’s background in graphic design, photography, and colour grading enhances his ability to craft engaging visuals. Committed to collaboration and mentorship, he thrives in dynamic teams, transforming ideas into cohesive stories that inform, inspire, and evoke emotion.

Meet the NEWF Team

// CARLOS NARONHA, MOZAMBIQUE

Carlos Sérgio Francisco Noronha, 42, was born in Maputo and began his career in 2001 at Radio and Television Klint (RTK) as an announcer. Initially trained in accounting, his artistic talent was recognized by a teacher, steering him towards media. In 2006, he joined Grupo Soico Televisão (STV) as a news producer, where his passion flourished. Carlos contributed to projects like Ntxuva Vidas em Jogo (STV and Cine Vídeo, Brazil), Kellogg’s Programs (South Africa), and the first editions of Fama Show and Show de Talentos. He has also freelanced with Top Grupo and collaborated on works for Millennium Bim and Vodacom. Since 2011, Carlos has been with Cine Group Mozambique, producing mini-documentaries, institutional videos, and feature films in Brazil, Angola, Malawi, and Tanzania. In 2021, he directed and filmed the TV series Influencer for Multichoice-DSTV and the documentary Ntoro Aldeia de Ratos, earning a nomination at Angola’s DOC LUANDA Festival. Currently, he serves as Production Director at Cine Group, continuing to direct and film impactful projects.

// Inès Arsi, Tunisia

Inès Arsi, a Tunisian filmmaker, graduated from the Higher School of Audiovisual and Cinema (Tunis) with a focus on writing and directing. Her award-winning short films have gained recognition at international festivals. She further developed her documentary skills at Université d'Été de La Fémis, where she directed All The Truth, Nothing But The Truth.  Her graduation film Yes but No earned her a spot as a Unimed Jury member at the 74th Venice Film Festival. Inès is active in various collectives and organizations, reflecting her commitment to social change. Her short film Flesh And Blood received support from AFAC and CNCI. Inès is also a member of WScripted, contributing to female-driven cinema.

// MOGAMAT SHAMIER MAGMOET, SOUTH AFRICA

Shamier is a freediver and scuba diver who lives in the heart of the Cape Flats in Cape Town, South Africa. After discovering the ocean, at the age of 33, Magmoet does everything in his power to advocate for positive change within his community and country through education and providing our youth the chance to experience and access the ocean—becoming advocates and protectors thereof. In 2018, he co-founded the ocean initiative NPO #SeaTheBiggerPicture and is a Wayfinder Explorer who manages a youth citizen science-based educational program geared towards ocean access. In 2019 he entered the NEW Pitch Competition and was one of the winners that received the opportunity to produce a short film. The result, Rise From the Cape Flats, premiered in 2020 and went on to film festivals, where Magmoet was nominated for several awards. He has been awarded honourable mentions, and won seven awards that include My Hero’s Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award. A producer and cinematographer, he is the first underwater filmmaker of colour in Cape Town, with new projects in research and development.

// NATHAN RICE, SOUTH AFRICA

Nathan Rice is a filmmaker from KwaZulu-Natal who has passionately been making films since the age of 12. Nathan achieved a BA in Film Directing and Screenwriting from AFDA Durban in 2015 where his graduation film, Homeless was shortlisted for the Student Academy Awards. Nathan has gone on to work on multiple fiction and environmental films, achieving the NEWF Africa rising star award in 2021. He has been trained on Red cameras and has done cinematography work filming for National Geographic Society, SABC and other independent productions, including the award winning “Ulwandle Lushile”.

// Samira Vera-Cruz, CABO VERDE

Samira Vera-Cruz is a Cape-Verdean film director and producer with experience filming in Cabo Verde, Angola, and Mozambique. She holds a BA in Film Studies with a minor in Global Communications from the American University of Paris. Samira has directed several films, including the short Buska Santu (2016), the feature Sukuru (2017), and the cellphone-shot short Filha da... (2022). Her documentary project And Who Will Cook? earned awards at Talents Durban and Ouaga Film Lab and was featured at FIDADOC and Durban FilmMart. Her latest short documentary, Sumara Maré (2023), produced through NEWF Producers' Lab and supported by NEWF and UNDP, has garnered international acclaim, winning Best Short Documentary at the London Pan African Film Festival and a Special Mention at the Cannes Pan African Film Festival. Samira is now developing Plastic Atlantis, a hybrid feature documentary selected for VdR and Generation Africa 2.0 Story Development Labs.

// Thuku Kamau, Kenya

Thuku is a filmmaker who specialises in cinematography, post-production, sound and virtual reality. He is an African Conservation Voices Fellow, a volunteer judge for Jackson Wild, a NEWF Fellow and has undergone REDucation training in South Africa. His film "Saving The Vulture" has screened in Kenya, Austria, South Africa, Rwanda, and continues to tour the world. It was nominated for the 2023 Jackson Wild Audience Award, placed as a finalist at Pridelands Wildlife Film Festival in Kenya and got officially selected for the British Columbia Film Festival 2023. In 2022, Thuku was featured on the Kenya Airways Msafiri Magazine as an emerging wildlife Filmmaker, he has since gone ahead to edit videos for National Geographic Society and lends his skills to NEWF, both as the lead on technical Labs, which includes elements of peer-to-peer mentorship and curriculum design, and as a content creator.

// WAMBUI WAWERU

Wambui Waweru is a Kenyan writer, filmmaker, voice artist, and producer with a deep passion for storytelling that celebrates Africa’s natural heritage and cultural identity. With a career that began in print journalism, she has seamlessly transitioned into nature storytelling, filmmaking, and mentorship, carving out a unique space for herself in the creative industry. As the Story Labs Lead for NEWF, Wambui plays a pivotal role in shaping narrative structures, refining curricula, and guiding cohorts of storytellers through the process of developing compelling stories, crafting shooting scripts, and navigating the marketing and distribution phases of their films. Her thoughtful mentorship encourages storytellers to dig deeper, uncovering the unseen stories of Africa and elevating voices that might otherwise remain unheard.