Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast African Couch Potato
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Ep58 Season Finale: Disney Launches "The Shards", ACP over 3 Years, eVOD, Beauty in Black, Timmy The Kid, Spider-Man and The Odyssey | 10 Aug 2026 | 00:13:15 | |
Welcome to the Season 3 Finale of African Couch Potato, still the number 1 place for what's going down in the world of SA's TV and movies. We have also recently hit number 8 in Million Podcasts' Top 100 African Podcasts. So what has been happening? last week Gino got the invite to a VIP screening of The Shards, a new series on Disney+. 17-year-old Bret finds his whole world changing with the arrival at his prestigious L.A. prep school of enigmatic new classmate Robert Mallory, that just happens to coincide with the appearance of a serial killer called The Trawler. With 3 years of episodes done and dusted, Gino looks back on what we have acheived since we began. One streamer that we all forgot about is eVOD, free to air broadcaster e.tv's viideo on demand platform. Gino gave the free version a whirl. In other news, Season 3 of Tyler Perry’s Beauty In Black returns to Netflix on the 27th of August, while, later in September, fresh from The Polygamist, Kenneth Nkosi hits the silver screen in a local comedy adventure. Timmy The Kid also features Lillian Dube, Celeste Ntuli and Sandile Mahlangu. Spider-Man: Brand New Day broke records with the biggest box office opening ever seen in SA cinemas. And, finally, to bring it home, Gino raves about The Odyssey, and why he rates it so highly. Till next time. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep57 Deborah Richards on “Shaken & Stirred" | 03 Aug 2026 | 00:31:26 | |
“A Bartender is the aristocrat of the working class.” So goes the line from Tom Cruise's Cocktail. The latest ACP is dialling in to Vegas to find out what went into the mix of Shaken & Stirred: The Story of Flair Bartending which is currently streaming on Apple TV. 4 x Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, and flair champion herself, Deborah Richards, directed this documentary with the help of Emmy-nominated producer and documentarian, Patrick Wirtz. Gino grabbed a Zoom call with the award-winning duo to find out how this all came about. Shaken & Stirred is the first full length documentary that covers the sport and art form of Flair Bartending. This is all about performing tricks with cocktail shakers, bottles, and other bar tools to entertain the patrons while making drinks. It combines elements of juggling, flipping, and sometimes even bar-magic, such as manipulating flaming liquors or performing choreographed routines, to enhance the overall guest experience and add excitement to bartending. Shaken & Stirred: The Story of Flair Bartending recently won Film Threat's 2026 Best Sports Documentary and you can catch it right now on Apple TV. The Official Site for Film Director, Deborah Richards 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep56 MAFS 3, Mageza, Project Hail Mary, Finding Joy, Kaylee Hottle, Netflix Coming Soon | 27 Jul 2026 | 00:11:42 | |
The end of July and thoughts are already turning to spring and warmer temperatures. Hi and welcome to ACP, still your number one spot for what's happening in the world of film and TV. In this ep, Gino casts his eye across the latest in the dating world as season 3 of Married at First Sight hits DStv Stream, and, adding some local flavour, Mageza Wants A Wife - follows a taxi driver who spends time with 10 young singles in the hope of also finding a forever connection. So good to have something that showcases the township side of SA, rather than the usual "yawn, yawn" places. Gino also takes a quick look at what you can look forward to on Netflix, which has a whole stack of stuff coming up:
It's not often that you get something for free, but Amazon is running a 30-day free trial, which Gino used to check out Project Hail Mary and, would you believe it?, Tyler Perry's Finding Joy. And finally, we mourn the tragic passing of 18 year old actress Kaylee Hottle, known for the last two "Godzilla" movies, where she played an orphaned girl named Jia who sees beyond Kong’s threatening appearance and learns to communicate with him through sign language. Next time we hook up with the director of Shaken & Stirred, a flair bartending documentary. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep55 RIP, Sharks, World Cup | 20 Jul 2026 | 00:07:23 | |
A mixture of highs and lows in the latest episode of African Couch Potato. We reflect on the loss of actor and gospel singer, Seputla Sebogodi, and footballer Jayden Adams. Best known for his role as Kenneth Mashaba in Generations, Seputla Sebogodi appeared in many well known productions, including Scandal! and Suburban Bliss, among others. as well as releasing a number of gospel albums. Only weeks before his passing, he premiered his new play Black Moon, at the National Arts Festival. And we also pay tribute to Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana midfielder, Jayden Adams, just weeks after he helped South Africa reach the World Cup knockout rounds for the very first time. And speaking of the World Cup, it's done - Viva España! So, next up are the Springboks, who have already soundly beaten England, Scotland and Wales over the last few weeks, but on the horizon is the incoming All Blacks tour. Gino reflects on where best to watch Bok rugby. And for something completely different, head for Disney+ to get up close with Hammerhead Sharks, and find out why it all reminded Gino of Moana. “You will board my boat, sail across the sea...” And don't forget our crowdfunding campaign to bring you ACP in all its technicolour glory, so you can watch as well as listen. There's a heap of rewards, depending on your donations. Check that out at Thundafund - African Couch Potato. You know it's the right thing to do! 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep54 Thulani Headman on “FOSTA” | 13 Jul 2026 | 00:24:10 | |
Welcome to African Couch Potato, SA's top audio podcast celebrating African film and television, according to Feedspot.com. Music has long been celebrated for its power to inspire, but for Thulani “Fosta” Headman, it became the foundation for rebuilding a life, a life now featured in a new documentary. Premiering at the Durban International Film Festival on 24 July, FOSTA follows Thulani's story from former Langa gang member and Pollsmoor prisoner to internationally recognised DJ, mentor, and community leader. Gino joined Thulani, via Zoom, to get some insight into how this documentary came to be, and to give you a taste of what FOSTA is all about. Thulani talks of his early family life growing up in the company of some of South Africa's top musicians, and how that background became such a driving force for him, through his experience in Pollsmoor, to his part in the creation of a learning space in Langa, the Bridges Academy, that has helped transform opportunities for young creatives in the community, offering access to world-class technology, mentorship and education. Thirteen years in the making, FOSTA premiers at the Durban International Film Festival on 24 July. And before we go, a reminder of our crowdfunding campaign to bring you ACP in all its technicolour glory, so you can watch as well as listen. There's a heap of rewards, depending on your donations. Check that out at Thundafund - African Couch Potato. Every little bit helps. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep53 Twiggy Matiwana on “Dear Sis Dolly” | 06 Jul 2026 | 00:17:06 | |
July, and it is freezing in Jozi. Last week, ACP was invited to a special screening of Dear Sis Dolly, a brand new movie about Drum Magazine, and more specifically one of South Africa's most trusted voices, Sis Dolly, Drum's agony-aunt. Gino grabbed his chance and his phone to catch a few moments at the screening with the film's acclaimed director Twiggy Matiwana. This comedy drama is now showing at all Ster-Kinekors. Speaking of Ster-Kinekor, they have relaunched Throwback Cinema, so you can rewatch classics like:
And if you download their app or hit their website, sterkinekor.com, you can find the latest releases, including:
Gino also brings you up to date with where he is with The Bear, and there's a new South African family drama on Netflix. The Four of Us centres on the influential Dhlomo family in which the usual issues threaten to tear the family apart. Hot stuff - and exactly what we need with the temperatures right now. And finally, a reminder of our new crowdfunding campaign to help us bring you ACP in glorious video, so you can watch as well as listen. There's a stack of rewards, depending on your donations. Check that out at Thundafund - African Couch Potato. Every little bit helps. Stay Warm! 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep52 Bafana Bafana, The Polygamist, The Bear, Avatar: Fire and Ash | 29 Jun 2026 | 00:13:35 | |
Firstly, a massive congratulations to Bafana Bafana, SA's national team for qualifying for the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup, alas, that is as far as it goes. With the football done, it's an episode of reviews, kicking off with what has become a global sensation, The Polygamist. The South African hit telenovela follows Jonasi Gomora, a self-made CEO and banker, whose carefully curated empire begins to unravel as his wife, secret second wife, mistress, and girlfriend fight for his life and wealth. Sandwiched between The Polygamist and the latest Avatar, Gino does some catching up by diving into The Bear, although he's only managed Season 1 as yet. From food to fantasy, and Gino gets over himself to sit through the entire 3 hours 17 minutes of the ongoing happenings of the Blue people. And finally, back home again, as we head to this afternoon's film critics screening of the fresh new look at the legendary Drum magazine's agony aunt Dear Sis Dolly. Plus a reminder of our new crowdfunding campaign to help us bring you ACP in glorious video, so you can watch as well as listen. There's a stack of rewards, depending on your donations. Check that out at Thundafund - African Couch Potato. Every little bit helps. So, who's gonna make it past the last 16? 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep51 Miguel Eek on “Amilcar” | 22 Jun 2026 | 00:16:27 | |
Something different this week. Among the nearly 60 titles on offer at the recent Encounters documentary festival was Miguel Eek's Amilcar. Amílcar Cabral (1924-1973) was a thinker and an African leader. He led the anticolonial armed struggle in Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde against Portugal but was assassinated 8 months before those countries became independent. Miguel Eek was born in Madrid in 1982. Raised between Mallorca, Stockholm and Barcelona, where he graduated in Documentary Filmmaking at the Cinema and Audiovisual School of Catalonia (ESCAC). He completed his training at the Arcada University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki. Amilcar is a decade long project, drawing on letters to his wives, which seeks to move beyond iconography and return Amílcar Cabral to the realm of the human, the fragile, and the unfinished. ACP managed to grab a fascinating few minutes with the filmmaker, between him delivering a Live Masterclass to an enthusiastic audience at the Goethe-Institut in Johannesburg on the complexities of running a 10 year movie project, and having to rush off to a sponsor's lunch. And a reminder of our new crowdfunding campaign to help us bring you ACP in glorious video, so you can watch as well as listen. There's a whole bunch of rewards depending on your donations. Check that out at Thundafund - African Couch Potato. Every little bit helps. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep50 Disney Gets Busy | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:14:26 | |
Toy Story 5 comes out this week. And, it features our very own Tyla, so you can hear from her and also catch Gino's take on the latest version. Plus, it's Youth Day. It's an all Disney ep as Gino also attended the Disney+ 2026 content showcase and he shares some of what went down and what to look out for this month.
We give you a head's up on the launch of Disney+ Quiz Nights across the country from the 24th of June, and Gino gives the lowdown on our new crowdfunding campaign to help us bring you ACP in glorious video so you can watch as well as listen. There's a whole bunch of rewards depending on your donations. Check that out at Thundafund - African Couch Potato. Every little bit helps. Dankie! And finally, it being football season, a quick look at just how Messi got discovered in Messi: The Forgotten Tape, also on Disney+. Have a fabulous Youth Day! 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep49 Mandisa Zitha on Encounters Film Festival | 08 Jun 2026 | 00:20:48 | |
“Encounters is an opportunity to slow down and look behind the headlines to better understand our world.” - so says Mandisa Zitha, Festival Director of the annual Encounters South African International Documentary Festival. The 28th edition of this festival is in full flow in Cape Town, Johannesburg, as well as a small run in Pretoria and will continue until June 14. This year’s line-up includes a host of South African films alongside storytelling from around the world. In total 58 films from 33 countries have been selected. There will be world premieres as well as several international documentaries getting their first screening on the African continent. Gino managed to grab a slot with the busy Mandisa to dig deeper into her love of documentaries, what got her involved with Encounters, and how she manages all three cities at the same time, as well as the host of both national and international filmmakers. Mandisa is not called the "ambassador for the SA film industry" for nothing. To get the full picture of what's happening and to get your festival tickets, check out encounters.co.za 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep48 Jet Li, Netflix Watchlist, Encounters | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:08:47 | |
Welcome to the latest News, Views and Reviews with ACP, still the number 1 film and television podcast to listen to in S.A. according to Feedspot.com. Kicking off the week with a bunch of stuff to check out on Netflix:
Next up is Gino's review of Rafa, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at Rafael Nadal, his personal life, unseen archives, and his journey to return to competitive play in 2024 after overcoming injuries in 2023. Exclusive Books answered Gino's prayers and sent us Jet Li’s Beyond Life and Death, so our next Movie Book Club will go there. From Kung Fu to comedy. In our second review, Sacha Baron Cohen returns with Ladies First, where a male chauvinist is transported to a matriarchal society, facing challenges from a formidable female version of himself. And finally, the documentary festival, Encounters, is about to kick off, but more on that to come. For tickets and more info, head to the Encounters site. And a final final, Gino won a game of Baccarat at the new Jade Casino - move over Mr Bond!
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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep47 Movie Book Club: “The Testaments” by Margaret Atwood | 25 May 2026 | 00:19:44 | |
Welcome to ACP and our brand new Movie Book Club episode. This is a new idea where we cover books that are worth reading, especially if they have been turned into screenplays such as Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, 50 Shades of Grey, Game of Thrones and many more. From our friends at Exclusive Books, we got, among others, The Testaments by Margaret Attwood, currently streaming on Disney Plus. The Testaments is the sequel to the well known The Handmaid's Tale, and is set roughly four years later. The series focuses on a new generation of young women in the dystopian world of Gilead. The story follows Agnes, the biological daughter of Offred, and Daisy, a teen brought into Gilead from outside. Both attend Aunt Lydia’s elite preparatory school for future wives, where obedience is enforced brutally and framed as divine duty. Also check out Gino's list of other books that are either currently streaming on Disney Plus or are on their way:
Time to get your read on. Check out your local store or online at exclusivebooks.co.za The Testaments supplied by Exclusive Books- the start to every great read. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep46 Waleed Al-Yamani and Richard Gau on “Martyrs” | 18 May 2026 | 00:39:19 | |
Welcome to ACP, the number 1 film and television podcast to listen to in S.A. according to Feedspot.com, and this week do we have news for you! Coming soon; not just a brand new totally South African action series, but hopefully the start of a whole new hig-impact, African rooted universe. Marvel, you have been warned! This week Gino had the chance to chat to series creator Waleed Al-Yamani, alongside lead actor Richard Gau to talk all things Martyrs. The mini-series follows the lives of a detective partnership between Rian, a gut-driven rebel, and Lupita, a disciplined military orphan. The pair discover the body of a woman doused with a mysterious drug. This discovery leads them into an underground world, where they uncover a series of dark secrets. The series is a collaboration between Waleed, and Richard's People's Republic of Entertainment, and will launch on YouTube on June 27. Save the date - it's gonna be hot! 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep45 Dowelani Nenzhelele on “The People vs VBS” | 11 May 2026 | 00:22:53 | |
Imagine waking up to find your life savings are gone forever. Well, that's what happened to thousands of people in 2018, many of them from rural and low-income communities. who had deposited or invested with VBS Mutual Bank, when it was exposed as the epicentre of a massive fraud and corruption scandal. In today's ACP, Gino talks, via Zoom, to local documentary filmmaker Dowelani Nenzhelele, whose own family lost hundreds of thousands of rands, about, not only the personal cost, but the pain and suffering visited on the victims, many who still have seen nothing of their missing money. Dowelani talks about how working alongside Idea Candy helped him bring the whole sorry story to the screen. The People vs VBS follows the money to show how a small mutual bank became entangled with multinational auditors, political parties, a royal household and a former president. You can stream The People vs VBS on DStv Stream and don't forget to check out Backpack Films to find out what Dowelani and the next generation of film makers are up to. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep44 Jason Jacobs & Devon Delmar on “Variations on a Theme” | 04 May 2026 | 00:22:24 | |
Variations on a Theme, a South African drama by directors Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar, just won the coveted Tiger Award for best competition film at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in The Netherlands, and has now gone on to win the Best African Film award at the Joburg Film Festival 2026 Gala Awards. So, obvs, we needed to talk to them. Gino got hold of them via Zoom to get some insight into the "whats?" and "whys?" behind the film. It tells the story of an elderly goat herder, Hettie, who falls victim to a scam promising long-overdue reparations for her father’s WWII service. As she waits for money that will never come, the disruptions of her 80th birthday threaten to strip away the last of her independence. Devon adds, “Although the film is fictional, it's based on the real experiences of people who have historically borne the brunt of a lot of injustices and continue to fall victim to these scams". The Tiger Competition jury said: “Possessing a deep poetic language, we found this to be a thoughtful and moving portrait of a community living under the spectre of colonial legacies and familial bonds in this world and the next.” You can catch Variations on a Theme at Ster-Kinekor V&A Nouveau in Cape Town or at Rosebank Nouveau in Johannesburg. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep43 Michael, BTS, Cynthia Shange, The Beast & The SAFFA Stunt Awards | 27 Apr 2026 | 00:10:25 | |
With invites from all over, this week Gino was spolt for choice. Welcome to African Couch Potato, the No.1 film and television podcast to listen to in SA according to Feedspot.com Firstly, on a sad note, trailblazing beauty queen and established actress, Cynthia Shange has left us. After being crowned Miss Black South Africa she went on to represent the country at Miss World in 1972. She was also the lead star in South Africa's first black feature film, Udeliwe. The invites! Invite number 1 was to Michael, at the IMAX with Laser in Rosebank. A long, long time in production, the movie follows Michael's rise to stardom from the early days in the 60s to his explosion as a megastar in the early 90s. Go! Invite number 2 was another groundbreaker in a way. BTS is a South Korean boy band who have made it big all over the world. After a pause to do military service, they reunited and started touring again. Their recent Arirang World Tour Tokyo concert was livestreamed to cinemas globally and Gino was there with the rest of the ARMY (Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth). The 12th Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards are around the corner and this year they will be hosted by SA's Nomzamo Mbatha and Nigeria’s producer-comedian-actor, Bovi on the 9th May in Lagos. While, on the same day, the SAFFA Stunt Awards are happening in Cape Town, you can get tickets by calling +27 83 716 1821. And, don't miss the next ep, when Gino chats to directors Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar about their film, Variations on a Theme, which premiered earlier in 2026, won the Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and Best African Film at the 2026 Joburg Film Festival. Be there! 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep42 Zenobia Kloppers on a Double Premiere ("180" and "Hive") | 20 Apr 2026 | 00:24:24 | |
Big fanfare! We have hit another first. This week sees the very first time we have featured a return guest. Welcome back Zenobia Kloppers, and she is here to do the double on ACP as she is doing the double in the film world. A rare occassion indeed. Zenobia has two movies coming out on two different streamers on the same day. When Zenobia was with us last she chatted to Gino about Finding Optel and Fiela se Kind amog other things. And now she is back to talk about her two latest works. Firstly the crime-thriller180 tells the tale of an enraged father who spirals down a dark path of emotional turmoil and vengeance when an unexpected road rage incident leaves his son in a critical condition. You can find 180 on Netflix. In a different direction is Hive, a horror story about a teen babysitter who loses the baby in her care. She finds herself facing a dark menace lurking among the playground children. Hive is currently on Tubi, a US-based streaming site, so check tubitv.com to see if it is available in your country. To get in touch with Zenobia professionally, you can email Monique on monique@moze.co.za In other news, the second SAFFA Stunt Awards is taking place on 9 May at the Avalon Theatre in Cape Town. For bookings call +27 83 716 1821. If you can, please suppport this lesser-featured section of the film world. And finally, don't miss our next episode when Gino will report back on the premiere of Michael at the state-of-the-art IMAX® with Laser in Rosebank. Should be a Thriller! 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep41 IMAX, Emperors Easter Weekend, Netflix Watchlist, DGSA Creative Awards | 13 Apr 2026 | 00:09:02 | |
What's better than IMAX? IMAX with Laser, of course. This week saw Gino get an invite ticket to check out the latest IMAX with Laser at The Zone @ Rosebank. With next generation projection technology that delivers brighter images, deeper contrast and unparalleled clarity, IMAX with Laser is now open. Check it out! And from the previous weekend, Gino also got to spend some time at Emperors Palace to take in some of their Easter Royale week. Family fun, with plenty of competitions to keep you entertained. Back to TV and next up is your Top Ten watchlist for Netflix:
Missing Showmax? Here's where to find all that content, and finally we take a quick look at the Directors Guild of South Africa’s Creative Awards which took place over the weekend in Cape Town. That's it from African Couch Potato, the number 1 film and television podcast to listen to in S.A. according to Feedspot.com. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep40 Sean Radford on Foley and Sound | 06 Apr 2026 | 00:25:51 | |
Footsteps, glass breaking, punches, door slams, clothes swishing, rain on the windscreen. How would your TV or film be if all these sounds and many more like them were missing? In the world of production it is not always possible to record these sounds as they happen or they are just not big enough, and so need to be replaced. In sound design, Foley is the reproduction of these everyday sound effects that are added to films, TV shows and other media in post-production to enhance audio quality, and it requires someone to create them. Enter the Foley artist. This week Gino spoke, via Zoom, to Academy of Sound Engineering lecturer, Sean Radford, about the art of Foley and just what it entails. As each sound effect is recorded live, it is important to have an understanding of recording techniques, how microphones work and what they do, as well as having an active imagination; you might need to replicate those difficult sounds like someone's arm breaking (celery - who knew?). It is these added and enhanced sounds that are an integral part of the on screen universe, and without them the illusion doesn't work. Paradoxically, the better Foley artist you are, the less you are noticed.
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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep39 News, Views and Reviews | 30 Mar 2026 | 00:09:57 | |
A quarter of the way through 2026 and it's another Monday morning and another episode of African Couch Potato. Welcome to the latest news, views and reviews. Sadly, we kick off with the loss of Chuck Norris. Probably most well-known for Walker, Texas Ranger, Chuck Norris is a legend in the world of martial arts and entertainment. He inspired countless memes, jokes, alongside much admiration for his achievements and personality. Also leaving us is Showmax. Africa’s biggest streamer will end on 30 April, so you have one more month to get your binge fix. Over the last two years Gino has chatted to many guests, from both behind and in front of the cameras, whose shows or films appeared on Showmax. So, goodbye Showmax, welcome back DStv Stream. Netflix is bringing sexy back with season 3 of Tyler Perry’s Beauty In Black, and South Africa’s very own Fatal Seduction wraps up season 2. The new Bafana Bafana jerseys are out and you have a couple of months to grab yours. From 11 June the world gives it all up to soccer as the FIFA World Cup gets underway, and in the very first game South Africa will take on Mexico. You can watch all the action on SABC, so no excuses. The US v Iran might be an interesting game, if they get that far. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep38 Jonty Acton on “The Reconciliation” (Film) | 23 Mar 2026 | 00:20:23 | |
Over the last 30 years or so, we have seen many films and TV productions that have, in different ways, looked at the issues of South Africa's troubled past, but very few have looked from the white, English-speaking perspective. The Reconciliation is an art-house drama about people who believe they’ve changed, until change asks something real of them. Anchored in a particularly South African context, the film explores the true costs of reconciliation when holding on to the past begins to suffocate the future. The story unfolds over a single Christmas Day at an old family home in an affluent suburb of Cape Town, where a mother tries to bring her fractured family together for what may be their final Christmas together. Determined to keep everyone at the table and preserve the appearance of unity, she finds her belief in reconciliation put to the test. ACP managed to hook up over Zoom with independent filmmaker Jonty Acton, currently in Germany, to talk about the film, his own childhood experiences that had such an influence on the storyline, and what finally pushed him to look at "crowdfunding" as a way forward. The film asks a simple, but perhaps uncomfortable, question: What happens when reconciliation becomes a way of avoiding real change? You can find Jonty's project at the Indiegogo.com link below. They are at over 80% of the required funding at the time of writing. Check it out. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep37 Chaeli Mycroft on the Chaeli Campaign (Podcasthon) | 16 Mar 2026 | 00:36:53 | |
Podcasthon! What is that? It is an international collection of podcasters who over this week will be dedicatig one episode of their show to a charity of their choice. Podcasthon started in 2023 with 300 French-speaking podcasters. It grew in 2024 and hit the international podcast stage last year, which is when we got on board. As part of this year's over 1,500 podcasters doing their bit, we will be focussing on South Africa's Chaeli Campaign. Born in Cape Town in the mid - 90s, Michaela “Chaeli” Mycroft co-founded The Chaeli Campaign when she was 9 years old. What started as a fundraising initiative to raise funds for her first motorised wheelchair to help her experience more independence has grown over the last 22 years, to becoming an internationally recognised foundation. Gino chatted with the vibrant Chaeli about her life with cerebral palsy, both growing up, the eventual establishment of the Chaeli Campaign and so much more . The Objectives of The Chaeli Campaign are to:
As Chaeli says, "funding is always needed" and you can get on board with this extremely worthwhile campiagn at Home - Chaeli Campaign You don't argue with a girl who did Kili in a wheelchair 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep36 Wesley West on Film Composition and Music Production | 09 Mar 2026 | 00:26:09 | |
There are many people who play an integral part of any TV or film production, yet are often not noticed when it comes to fame and fortune. It is part of our mission at ACP to turn the spotlight on these people. On an ever-growing list of guests that are also SAFTA nominees comes someone who's role is often overlooked but you would think something was very wrong if his contribution wasn't there. Meet film composer Wesley West. This week Gino connected with Cape Town–based composer, musician, and producer, Wesley, via Zoom, to talk about his musical beginnings, as a student and then a teacher, as well as his work, featuring over 25 movies among many other productions, notably his SAFTA nominated Reënboogrant. Inspired by Louise van Niekerk’s bestselling 90s novels, Reënboogrant is a Pretoria-based teen telenovela centred on the Brink family. It is an exhilarating rollercoaster ride through the world of authentic teenage drama, family conflicts, love, aspirations, and fierce rivalries. Catch all the highs and lows at Hoërskool Reënboogrant, now streaming on Showmax. Wesley is also very busy planning his wedding and we wish him all the best. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep35 News, Views and Reviews | 02 Mar 2026 | 00:10:07 | |
March already! It'll soon be Christmas at this rate. Welcome to episode 35 of season 3 of African Couch Potato. This week we say Goodbye, Hello and Congratulations. We say Goodbye to Eric Dane. Best known for his roles on Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria, the American actor died less than a year after revealing he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a form of motor neuron disease. He was 53. We say Hello to several series which are coming to Mzansi Magic, notably Youngins and Law, Love and Betrayal plus an extension to the popular Inimba. We say Congratulations to the freshly-announced SAFTA nominees, many of whom have been in the hotseat as guests of ACP. Gino also runs through a list of what to watch as we swing into March, including: Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight - depicts 8-year-old Bobo's life on her family's Rhodesian farm during the Bush War's final stages. Pamela, A Love Story - Follows the life of pop culture icon Pamela Anderson, including never-before-seen archival footage and personal journals. Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model - a documentary look at how the glamorous competition became a pop-culture phenomenon marked by explosive drama, meltdowns, and controversies. In The Moment - follows London comedian Mo Gilligan as he dishes on fame, family and being British in America. Being Gordon Ramsay - follows the celebrity chef's journey to launch dining concepts at 22 Bishopsgate, London's second tallest building.. Taylor Tomlinson: Prodigal Daughter - her fourth Netflix special, following Quarter-Life Crisis (2020), Look At You (2022), and Have It All (2024). March on! 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep34 Tim Apter and Elle Oosthuizen on "Helderberg" | 23 Feb 2026 | 00:28:16 | |
On November 28, 1987, South African Airways Flight 295, a Boeing 747-200 named Helderberg, was en route from Taiwan, to Johannesburg with a scheduled stop in Mauritius. Shortly after midnight, the aircraft reported smoke in the cockpit to Mauritian air traffic control. Communication was lost shortly thereafter, and the plane crashed into the Indian Ocean, killing all 159 passengers and crew on board. Helderberg is a locally produced 3-part documentary, and this week on ACP, Gino had the chance to chat to producer Elle Oosthuizen and director Tim Apter about how the series happened and just what goes into pulling together a story from almost 40 years ago. Over the years many documents and transcripts have been lost, people involved at the time have passed on, and the failure to reach a definite conclusion in the original investigation has led to all sorts of theories and speculations as to what actually happened. The Helderberg disaster remains a significant event in South African aviation history, marked by tragedy and ongoing questions about its causes and implications. Catch all three parts of Helderberg currently streaming on Showmax. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep33 Rian van Heerden on “Brakpan Chronicles” | 16 Feb 2026 | 00:27:23 | |
In Brakpan if they invite you for a fight, a braai will break out. Even people from Brakpan make fun of Brakpan! The two-part documentary series Brakpan Chronicles is due out on Showmax this Friday and in this episode Gino gets to share a brandewyn with South African radio and television personality Rian van Heerden, the man who is lifting the lid on this much-maligned, memed and mocked one-time mining town on the East Rand. Rian chats to Gino about his, often controversial, career from his early days, to his many years of hosting intriguing conversations as a radio DJ and his move into the world of television, where he has helmed such notable successes as Sex in Afrikaans, Die Real Housewives van Pretoria and Tiek Tok Boem. Brakpan Chronicles starts streaming on Showmax, this Friday (Closest cities to Brakpan town centre? Liquor City and Baby City) 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep32 Aluve Mjali on a Budding Career | 09 Feb 2026 | 00:34:26 | |
Into the second month of the year and the next date on the horizon is this weekend's Valentine's Day. Two years ago saw the Valentine movie Forever Yena hit our screens. Patience, we'll get there! Playing the role of Kwanda was a young and upcoming actor named Aluve Mjali. In this week's ACP, Gino gets to sit down and follow the budding career of this young hot-shot actor, from his school days, to his interest in sound engineering and mixing for TV, and how that led to new and exciting roles, this time in front of the camera. For someone still on their upward journey, Aluve's CV is already full of big names. Equally comfortable in TV productions, commercials or in the movies, Aluve's star is surely set to shine. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep31 Keketso Mpitso on “Outlaws” | 02 Feb 2026 | 00:31:32 | |
He’s the chaos agent you can’t ignore. The family menace who somehow built himself a fanbase. The man who turned balaclavas into a movement. Tlali is back for Outlaws Season 2 and he’s hungrier, wilder, and more unhinged than ever. But who is the actor behind this outrageous villain? Born and raised in Daveyton, Keketso Mpitso began attending acting classes in a local community theatre at the age of 10. This led him to attend East Rand School Of the Arts followed by CityVarsity School of Media and Creative Arts where he obtained an Advance Diploma in Acting for Television. After a brief stint as a radio DJ, his career took off with films for Mzanzi Bioskop. Gino sat down with Keketso to talk about soccer, his early years, his love for theatre, and, of course, the return of one of Outlaws’ most unpredictable villains. Outlaws follows the dramatic lives of the Biyela clan, Zulu cattle farmers, and the Tseoles, Basotho cattle raiders on the border between Lesotho and KZN, now streaming on Showmax 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep30 News, Views and Reviews | 26 Jan 2026 | 00:11:54 | |
We are almost at the end of January and that paycheck should be coming in right now. Still plenty to watch; In this ep we have a mixed bag of local and US items. We kick off with a mention of The Bridge Networking Soiree, a new initiative that aims to introduce Black American professionals to South African professionals, to share intellectual, social and venture capital. Unfortunately Gino couldn't make it but thanks for the invite! Tot Siens, Selina on Showmax, pays tribute to a domestic worker and the integgral role she played in the filmmaker, Lourensa Eckard's life. Despite his dislike of action flicks, Gino gives The Rip, starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon a 10/10. In The Rip (Netflix) a group of cops discovers a stash of cash, leading to distrust and corruption. Back home, the animated bible movie David is making waves as it has ironically taken on the Goliath that is the latest Avatar offering. In cinemas now! And finally when you thought you had seen everything; you haven't, yet! Dating Naked UK is now on DStv Stream. Single men and women bare all on a tropical island in the hopes of finding love without modern world complications getting in the way, hosted by reality celeb Rylan Clark. Now you've seen it all! 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep29 Albert Pretorius on “Die Kantoor” | 19 Jan 2026 | 00:22:53 | |
Goeie dag! Welcome to the latest episode of ACP where Gino has to take on the new boss. New boss of what? we hear you ask. Meet Flip, the manager at polony distributors Deluxe Processed Meats. Still confused? All will be explained. Our first guest of the year is award winning actor Albert Pretorius, and he is hitting your screens in the brand new Afrikaans adaptation of the world-renowned comedy series, The Office. Albert, as Flip Bosman, the manager, takes on the iconic role that earned both Ricky Gervais and Steve Carell their first Golden Globes, as David Brent in the British version and Michael Scott in the US version, respectively. No pressure then. South Africa’s version of The Office, has been spiced up with a distinctly local flavour. A documentary film crew is busy filming a day-to-day look into how polony is made in Klerksdorp's Deluxe Processed Meats company. However, things are about to get shaken up, as a BEE consortium has recently acquired a significant share of the business. Gino talks to Albert about his early days and how he got into theatre, before his TV and movie career too off. And we get some insight into both Die Kantoor and Flip Bosman, the self-proclaimed Rassie of the polony business. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep28 First Reviews of the Year | 12 Jan 2026 | 00:11:52 | |
2026 is here and most people are already back at work and the next holiday is Human Rights Day, way away on the 21st of March. Here at ACP we never stop, and Gino has a full goody bag for this week's ep. We kick off with a new show on Mzansi Magic, Bhelas, which follows the life of Thato - a young college drop-out who wants to become a chef. Across the pond to the supposed "Land of the Free", we find a jail in Arizona where the inmates govern themselves. This experimental docu-series is the brainchild of a local sherrif who wants to shake things up. Check it out, Gino gives it an 8/10. AFCON is getting close to the sharp end, and unfortunately we (South Africa) are no longer contenders. Gino bemoans the fate of Bafana Bafana and our loss of footballing glory. Nigerian singer/songwriter Wizkid's documentary, Wizkid: Long Live Lagos is out on Showmax. A deeply personal look at a singular musician, the film also outlines the expansion of African music to a global, mainstream stage where it's recognized as the many disparate genres and sounds it is. And we round off the episode with an update on how things stand in Harlan Coben's Run Away , currently streaming on Netflix. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep27 First Episode of the Year | 05 Jan 2026 | 00:12:38 | |
Happy New Year and welcome to the first episode of African Couch Potato of 2026. We kick off the ep with Gino's top 26 movies to look out for over the coming year. He has a look at the whirlwind African tour of American YouTuber iShowSpeed. Staying with the African tour theme, there's a review of the totally crazy Tiffany Haddish Goes Off currently streaming on Showmax, and we end with a first look at the new Harlan Coben thriller now on Netflix, Run Away. Here is the movie list with their expected release dates Top 26 anticipated movies for 2026
A stack of diary dates to keep you going through 2026. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep26 New Year’s Episode | 29 Dec 2025 | 00:09:30 | |
The last episode of ACP for 2025! With only a few days left of the year, Gino takes time to reflect on the amazing guests we've had the pleasure of hosting; where we are all over the world and how you managed to listen in. In a move that took many people by surprise, Netflix is planning to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, which, if successful, will make it possibly the largest media company on the planet. The downside for us is that we may lose several channels from DStv, as well as some shows from Showmax. Now, here's Gino's top 25 for '25:
That about wraps it up . See you next year! 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep25 RIP DJ Warras, Love + Wine, Man vs Baby, Knives Out, Genesis Christmas Special | 22 Dec 2025 | 00:13:52 | |
The season of goodwill is upon us, yet sadly, we start this episode with the horrific shooting of DJ Warras. Gino takes some time to reflect on this tragic event. Moving on, this week sees Gino relating his adventures from his hilarious recent roadtrip to Mozambique, where just about everything that could go wrong, did! Surviving the trip, Gino takes a look at the new Netflix release: Love and Wine, the story of a rich guy working for his dad's company, who falls for a med student and pretends to be poor like her. His lie spirals into a mess of comedy and touching moments. There's more comedy with How to Ruin Love - Suspecting infidelity, Zoleka plans to catch her boyfriend in the act, only to ruin her own surprise proposal. Now she must win him back. And comedic royalty Rowan Atkinson is back with Man vs Baby which picks up after Man vs Bee. This time Trevor (Atkinson) is now looking after a luxurious London penthouse, with another unlikely, un-asked-for companion. The third installment of Knives Out, titled Wake Up Deadman revives Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc, who is called to investigate the death of a prominent clergyman during a church service, with the entire congregation present and all of them potential suspects. This neatly takes us to the Genesis - In The Garden Concert on Boxing Day, featuring not only members of the Genesis cast but also some of the top gospel singers around. And on that note, African Couch Potato wishes you a joyous and peaceful festive season. For those that need to know - Florestinha do Índico means Little Forest of the Indian Ocean 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep24 Luto Mpunga | 15 Dec 2025 | 00:15:16 | |
Luto Mpunga is a South African social media personality and content creator known for her activity on TikTok, sharing videos featuring personal moments, humour, and music-related content. She is also part of the Director's Guild of South Africa. In this episode we grabbed a few minutes with her, via Zoom, to chat about the DGSA Creatives Awards. The Creatives Awards is a groundbreaking event that sets a new gold standard for recognizing and celebrating the brilliance, innovation, and artistic excellence within South Africa’s film and television industry. The main awards ceremony will be happening next year in March Luto also talks about her earlier years in the modelling industry which led to her becoming a coach, training toddlers and teenagers in modeling and life skills for fashion shows, and her ultimate goal, which is to be an actress. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep23 Sibusiso Mthiya | 08 Dec 2025 | 00:29:21 | |
Sibusiso Mthiya is a South African media personality, producer, and presenter known for hosting inspirational shows and it was a pleasure to welcome him to the studio for a chat with Gino about his career and his plans for the future, as well as talking openly about his faith and growing up without a present father figure . Sibusiso might be known to older listeners from his days on Kideo and YoTv Land where he started at the age of 6 years old. He talks to Gino about those early days and how celebrity status is no longer what it was. From his days as a child star, he stayed in the entertainment industry where he has popped up as an actor, a radio DJ and more recently as a producer. Sibusiso is involved with SID Media, hosting programs that combine music, inspirational conversations, and community engagement. He is also heavily involved with Hope Channel Africa as Head of Content and Programming. His newest venture is Khula Ndoda, a new podcast born out of a passion to mentor and guide young boys through the challenges of adolescence. Developed with a dedicated team in South Africa, the podcast aims to offer support and guidance to young men navigating the complexities of growing up. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep22 Hello December | 01 Dec 2025 | 00:14:54 | |
December is here, Christmas is round the corner and so are the holidays. And how are we going to kick off the celebrations? With a resounding win by the Springboks. For the first time, Gino got to watch the Boks with his Dad on his birthday. And how? Because DStv has unlocked the Premium package to all Compact subscribers until the end of December, but only on the decoder, not DStv Stream. ACP has a look at the Open Chats Podcast which scored a win with the South African Social Media Awards (SASMA) which took place recently. In case you were wondering, Gino gives a rundown of the top 10 (music) videos that racked up a billion views the fastest on YT. And before you hit the pool or the beach, here's some watchlists to keep you occupied. On Netflix
Coming Soon
and on Showmax
Enjoy! 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep21 Nikki Comninos on True Crime Documentaries | 24 Nov 2025 | 00:26:40 | |
The war is over, but the silence remains. The South African Border War left broken nations and haunted lives. Unspoken War reveals the hidden cost of a conflict few speak about and even fewer truly understand. This week Gino gets the chance to talk, via Zoom, in depth with the docuseries director Nikki Comninos. Born in Zimbabwe with a father in political exile and a mother busy covering war as a foreign correspondent, it is no real surprise that Nikki would end up working on documentaries. And what a list that is. Gino and Nikki discuss from 2004's Algemeen Befokte Afrikaans through to last year's Tracking Thabo Bester, and of course, her latest work Unspoken War, a 6-part documentary now streaming on Showmax and also on Mnet. While the war essentially took place from 1966 to 1989, very few people are aware of the details of it, as it's almost never spoken about, hence the title. As Niiki says, "Almost everybody has a connection to the war, and anybody we spoke to almost felt like they needed to get something off their chest. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep20 Global Creative Summit & Everything Else | 17 Nov 2025 | 00:17:19 | |
Episode 20 of ACP found Gino in a sartorial spin when he was invited to speak at the inaugural Global Creative Summit that just happened in Johannesburg, but more on that later. We kick off the ep with a couple of reviews. First up is Boots on Netflix. based on the book The Pink Marine. This is the story of a gay teen who joins the Marine Corps in the late 70s. A brave move by anybody's standards; homosexuality being a big no-no in the US military at that time. "I have done everything" claims the next subject under Gino's scrutiny. Being Eddie highlights Eddie Murphy's unique ability to reinvent himself throughout his nearly 50-year career, and his impact on the entertainment industry. Check out Gino's Top Ten Eddie Murphy movies
Ok, the summit. Timed to coincide with the G20, the Global Creative Summit positioned Africa’s creative economy alongside the world’s leading economic agenda. Clever! The three-day event fixed around five creative areas where Africa is pushing the boundaries: music, film & television, fashion & design, gaming & digital arts, and publishing & literature. Each sector was explored through panel discussions (including Gino) aimed at unlocking growth and investment. Lastly a throwback in two senses. One, a feature that we used to do; the Golden Oldie, and two, back to 2011, with 50/50. Inspired by a true story, this poignant comedy centres on a 27-year-old guy who learns of his cancer diagnosis and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease. And that's all she wrote... Don't miss next week when Gino chats to Nikki Comninos, director of Unspoken War. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep19 News, Views and Reviews | 10 Nov 2025 | 00:17:12 | |
Welcome to Episode 19 of ACP and do we have news for you. This week, Gino deals with his son's birthday, faces up to Frankenstein and looks forward to the King of Pop on the silver screen First up, while finding animé content for his son's birthday, Gino finds out that ratings vary from country to country and that what is ok in one country is definitely not suitable in others. Next, after months of waiting, director Guillermo del Toro's ambitious adaptation of author Mary Shelley's classic horror, Frankenstein, rises from the slab on Netflix. The big news is that the long-awaited Michael is finally happening in April next year, "tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson 5 to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world." You heard it here first. Showmax has released the trailer for Masinga - The Calling, due out early December. This edgy crime thriller explores an exiled Zulu detective's return to his homeland, where he is forced to confront the demons of his youth. Plus news of the GEMA awards, honouring innovation and outstanding achievements in TV and streaming marketing. And get ready for a true blast from the past with the rollout of a red Plenty of stuff to take your mind off the gloomy weather. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep18 News, Views and Reviews | 03 Nov 2025 | 00:12:17 | |
November is here already, and to welcome it in Gino takes a quick look at whats hot and happening on the local scene. We kick off the episode with a couple of reviews; Bad Influencer on Netflix is a drama centred round celebs buying and selling faux gear, followed by Slay Queens on Showmax. This docuseries picks up on first-hand accounts of those ladies who hook up for cash. In the news, the SABC TV licence crisis is not getting any better, while Multichoice's Shaka iLembe scored big on the job front. Finally, what to look out for on Netflix: The Big C - A suburban mother faces her cancer diagnosis while trying to find humor and happiness as well. My Sister's Husband - Amara deceitfully pawns her sister off to her husband which leads to a marital quagmire. Just Alice - A resourceful wife leads a double life, expertly juggling separate households and husbands while trying to keep her elaborate charade from falling apart. Unspeakable Things - Leanne Morgan discusses her rise to fame, family matters, and her one-time CBD experience. Being Eddie - Follows a comprehensive look at Eddie Murphy's life and career. while on Showmax: Outlaws S2 - Set in the lush but lawless land on the border between Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal, Outlaws is the story of two families at war with each other The Unspoken War - In 1993, four years after the last shots were fired in the "Border War", a peaceful end to apartheid was negotiated. Drop - A widowed mother's first date in years takes a terrifying turn when she's bombarded with anonymous threatening messages on her phone. Last Breath - A true story that follows seasoned deep-sea divers as they battle the raging elements to rescue their crew mate trapped hundreds of feet below the ocean's surface. High Ground - When a mysterious prisoner lands in his jail, a border town sheriff faces the wrath of a brutal cartel in this action-packed thriller. That should keep you going for a while - enjoy! 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep17 ”Finding Optel” with Mikayla Joy Brown | 27 Oct 2025 | 00:22:26 | |
Where to after Silwerskerm? For 25 year-old Mikayla Joy Brown and her 30 year-old brother Jesse Brown the answer was the prestigious BFI London Film Festival. Their film Finding Optel just started streaming on Showmax last week so Gino grabbed the opportunity to chat to co-director, writer and lead actress, Mikayla, about what inspired her, how they pulled it together and what it was like being at the London Film Festival. The heartwarming, quirky detective story Finding Optel is all about teenager Claire Abrahams who runs a lost and found service. When the community dog, Optel, goes missing, Claire stumbles upon clues to another mystery much closer to home — the disappearance of her troubled older brother. Through quirky encounters, community secrets, and a trail of hope, Claire must solve her biggest case yet. Mikayla chats to Gino about the inspirations behind the film and her desire to paint a different picture of life on the Cape Flats, away from the usual stories of gangsterism and violence. “There is such beauty that exists in those communities. I wanted Finding Optel to portray a different narrative that is more hopeful than harrowing." says Mikayla. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep16 News, Views and Reviews | 20 Oct 2025 | 00:14:47 | |
Welcome to this week's serving of African Couch Potato; on the menu are some reviews and some news. As an appetizer, Gino looks at School Ties, nominated for an international Emmy and directed by previous guest Richard Finn Gregory, this alarming documentary series explores the culture of sexual grooming at all-boys’ schools in South Africa and is currently on Showmax. Our next course will also be on Showmax, an upcoming documentary series on the Angolan Bush war. Titled Unspoken War, the series takes a hard look at the over twenty year conflict between South Africa and the various liberation movements that eventually resulted in Namibian independence. The series drops on the 12th November. Another new show coming to Showmax is Slay Queens. Starting on the 31st October with new episodes dropping every Friday. Guess what it is about? Young women getting into transactional relationships with often older men for access to their bodies. But you knew that. As a side order Ngicela iVisa invites men to go on the show to publicly ask for a break from their wives so they can "tie up loose ends". It's going to end in tears. To end proceedings, the National Film & Television Awards South Africa has announced its nominees for the 3rd iteration of the glamorous event. They include John Kani, Jerry Mofokeng, Albert Ntombela and Leon Schuster. Hopefully that has given you an appetite for some good old home-cooked content - get binging. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep15 News, Views and Reviews | 13 Oct 2025 | 00:09:59 | |
What's going down on the local scene? Welcome to African Couch Potato's News, Views and Reviews with your host Gino Shelile. This episode we kick off with Reviews, looking at three shows currently on Netflix. Monster - The Ed Gein Story - Season 4 of the anthology series about high-profile crimes or killers that captured public attention and notoriety. High Infidelity - Larissa finds out her husband is cheating on her with her colleague. She does the unexpected, forgives her husband and decides to team up with him to outsmart the colleague who's trying to destroy their marriage. But not everything is as it appears. Ruth & Boaz - a modern-day retelling of one of the most iconic love stories in the Bible. A young woman escapes the Atlanta music scene to care for an elderly widowed woman and in the process finds the love of her life and gains the mother she never had. While Gino was chatting to Brett Michael-Innes and Nick Ahlers for Showmax’s Khaki Fever, in a previous episode, they briefly touched on The Heart is a Muscle. Good news is, the film has been selected to represent SA at the Oscars. Sticking with silverware, Promax is about to grab the headlines, although this year, the ceremony will be online, which kinda takes the fun out of it all, and to wrap up, there are laughs a-plenty with a new show on Mzansi Magic, Fathers & Sons. And as they say... That's all Folks! 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep14 Zenobia Kloppers | 06 Oct 2025 | 00:24:18 | |
2025 looks like the breakout year for this episode's guest. With a starring role in Amazon Prime's Wheel of Time and her latest film, Finding Optel, having its international premiere at the prestigious BFI London Film Festival later this month, singer, actress, voice artist, writer and business owner Zenobia Kloppers joins us, via Zoom, from Cape Town to talk about her illustrious career. Widely acclaimed for playing the title role in 2019's Fiela se Kind, Zenobia's credit list on IMDB is quite a scroll, including Unseen, Khaki Fever, Lucky Fish, Blood & Water and many more . She took time out to chat to Gino about moving from theatre to the screen, working on Fiela with our previous guest, Brett Michael Innes (Khaki Fever, Fiela se Kind), directing, the difficulty of playing the tragic Sarah Baartman, and her new movie Finding Optel. The film tells the story of teenager Claire Abrahams, who runs a lost and found service where she locates anything and everything that has been misplaced. When the community dog, Optel goes missing, Claire must confront her brother’s painful disappearance to solve her biggest case yet. Finding Optel hits our screens on Showmax on Friday, 24 October. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep13 News, Views and Reviews | 29 Sep 2025 | 00:20:45 | |
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 foreign investments in South Africa’s media sector in recent years. Ster-Kinekor brings the stage to the silver screen: The cinema chain brings various theatrical productions to selected Cinema Nouveau venues. From the Met in New York, the National Theatre in London, with Cape Town Opera's AIDA thrown in too, you can now enjoy the theatre experience, at the movies. In the review section, Gino looks at three Netflix offerings: Beauty in Black S2 - Two women with contrasting lives become connected. One fights for survival after her mother forces her out while the other runs a prosperous company. Rebel Royals - Follows Märtha Louise and Shaman Durek Verrett as they prepare for their controversial Norwegian wedding. Beauty and the Bester - Did the renowned Dr Nandipha get embroiled in Thabo Bester's prison break? This chilling documentary series examines the enigmatic ties that bound them. And, this just in - Multichoice has scooped 4 nominations for the International Emmys.
We managed to grab reactions to the news from some of those involved in these outstanding productions - so listen to the very end. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 Ep12 Kagiso Latane on "Entabeni", "Omowale" and Acting | 22 Sep 2025 | 00:23:41 | |
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 to better his knowledge with frequent returns to places of learning. In 2014 he obtained an NQ5in Digital Filmmaking from the Big Fish School of Filmmaking. Kagiso also has a Degree in International Relations obtained from UNISA. His list of acting roles is equally impressive, featuring in, among others, Neelan and Kevin, iNumber Number and Showmax’s most popular series ever The Wife. His short film Entabeni recently won an award at the Durban International Film Festival. Kagiso is also a freelance Transmission Controller at Supersport and when he is not doing that he is busy running Canvus Productions, his film and television production company, offering full-service video production specializing in innovative afrocentric content. Way to go! 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 11 Keneilwe Matidze on Casting "Youngins" (Showmax) and Soul City | 15 Sep 2025 | 00:34:07 | |
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 this episode she shares how things went down in putting together this energetic, authentic teen cast through Seasons 1 to 3, from the initial auditions to caring for the mental welfare of the actors on set. Not only that, Keneilwe also stars in the show as the vivacious Life Orientation teacher, Pearl. On top of that, Keneilwe consults on and advises individuals in the industry on various legal matters ranging from contractual to labour law. Then, as if that wasn't enough, there is the return of Soul City - watch this space... 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 10 Nosipho Maketo-van den Bragt on AVIJOZI | 08 Sep 2025 | 00:24:31 | |
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 knowledge in a more artistic endeavor with her husband, Rob Van den Bragt, a visual effects supervisor. The couple co-founded Chocolate Tribe, the Johannesburg and Cape Town-based visual effects and animation studio that has done work for Netflix, BBC, Disney and Voltage Pictures. Nosipho chats to ACP about Chocolate Tribe and this year's AVIJOZI, happening this weekend. The event brings together local talent, global speakers, and high-impact creative energy, celebrating the fusion of creativity and technology. Whether you’re a seasoned professional, an aspiring talent, or simply a curious enthusiast, AVIJOZI offers something for everyone. And what's more, entrance is free. Find out more at AVIJOZI 2025 - Home And don't forget to check out, like, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for past episodes of African Couch Potato. You know you want to. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||
| S3 09 - Tendayi Nyeke on “Loved Out” | 01 Sep 2025 | 00:22:32 | |
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 council member, Tendayi has worked as a film and television executive on several award-winning shows and has written, produced, and directed television programs across South Africa's major broadcasters. Gino finds out what it was like to move around so much before settling in the US, and more importantly, what it will be like screening Loved Out in Zimbabwe. Ten years in the making, Loved Out throws together a toxic frenemy, a high-stakes cooking competition, a shady preacher, and a kidnapped mom in an unapologetic blend of humour, social commentary, and African city glam. Catch it on the silver screen from September 26. 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: WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 | |||