David Franciscus

David’s the kind of guy who’s been bouncing off the walls with creativity since he was a kid. Art, design, music, tech—he’s one of those people who just can’t help but dive headfirst into anything that looks interesting. And honestly, you can see it in the way he approaches filmmaking. It’s not just a job for him; it’s like he’s crafting a mixtape out of all the stuff he loves. He got his first real taste of the industry back in 2009, still in his first year at uni, already hustling in the South African film scene, mostly on TV ads for both local and big-name international brands. The guy eats, sleeps, and breathes movies. He’s basically got the film gods on speed dial—Spielberg, Scorsese, Coppola, Kubrick, Fincher, P.T. Anderson, Tarantino… the list goes on. Those legends shaped the way he tells stories: bold, character-driven, and never afraid to dig deep or push buttons. David’s not just talk, either. He snagged a Silver Loerie for his very first commercial, which got him a ticket to the Cannes Lions, and things just kind of snowballed from there. Gold Loerie as Brand SA’s Young Creative in 2018, a spot on Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans the next year. And lately? His feature project, The Day of the Vow, landed a spot at the Durban Film Mart co-production market. The guy’s got momentum. He’s got that relentless drive, always pushing forward, believing that anyone making content has a duty—not just to entertain, but to actually make the world less of a mess.