Levy Sekonya: rewriting South Africa’s film industry from the ground up

By 2020, a second-hand Canon camera became his tool of rebellion. He filmed music videos in Johannesburg’s student hubs, his work raw and rooted in the unvarnished rhythms of township life.

By CityLife Arts Writer

Levy Sekonya, aka Director Levy, is a 31-year-old filmmaker from Polokwane, Limpopo Province, who has never waited for permission to tell a story.
“I’m a director and editor because I refused to let ‘no’ be the final answer,” he says, his tone equal parts resolve and humility.

As the founder of Authentic Media, Sekonya is redefining what it means to build a creative career in South Africa—one camera, one collaboration, and one community at a time.

Sekonya’s journey began in 2019 with a diploma from City Varsity and a stark realization.
“I knocked on every door, but no one wanted a director without a portfolio,” he recalls.
Undeterred, he turned graphic design gigs into a lifeline, embedding his videography contact details into posters and flyers for local events.
“Clients would call asking, ‘Who’s this Levy guy?’ I’d say, ‘The one who’ll film your cousin’s wedding like it’s a blockbuster.’”

When traditional paths failed, he carved his own.
“I started Authentic Media after I couldn’t get a job as a director. So, in my young and oblivious nature, I started a business and employed myself.”

By 2020, a second-hand Canon camera became his tool of rebellion. He filmed music videos in Johannesburg’s student hubs, his work raw and rooted in the unvarnished rhythms of township life. A breakthrough came through the Youth Content Collective (YCC), a collective connecting emerging filmmakers with brands.
“YCC introduced me to working with Nando’s,” he explains.
“They help young creators access opportunities and learn about the industry.”

That partnership led to a defining moment in 2023 when Nando’s and Open Studios hosted an art exhibition featuring over 100 Johannesburg artists. Tasked with documenting the event, Sekonya bypassed polished narratives, focusing instead on the artists’ labour—calloused hands, sweat-slicked brows, and the unfiltered banter of creation. His unflinching approach earned him first prize in the Nando’s Youth Content Creator Awards and a R300,000 grant.

“After receiving the award, I accessed business funding,” he says. “It wasn’t just money—it was momentum.”

The funds transformed Authentic Media into a communal hub. He upgraded equipment, launched workshops, and instituted a gear-lending policy.
“Talent isn’t the problem—access is,” he insists. “If my camera helps someone skip the hurdles I faced, that’s a win.”

In 2024, Sekonya expanded his vision with Short Film Sundays, an initiative aimed at creating opportunities for young filmmakers and actors in Gauteng. “Short Film Sundays” not only provides access to equipment and fosters networking but also creates portfolios for budding creatives. The project has set ambitious goals: producing 11 films by first-time directors, hosting an annual short film festival at Bioskop in Melpark, and, with sponsorship support, offering cash prizes to elevate local talent.

Among the films under production is 2SPIN, a gripping two-part series directed by Sekonya. The story follows a teacher with a dark past, haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his twin, as he embarks on a quest for answers. Sekonya’s approach emphasizes storytelling that, as he puts it, “smells like home,” drawing from authentic and unfiltered experiences.

“Levy doesn’t care about your résumé,” says Siyabonga Thwala, a filmmaker and musician from Alexandra township. “He asks, ‘What’s your truth?’ Then he hands you a camera and says, ‘Go.’”

Sekonya’s efforts aren’t confined to urban centers. He is piloting a mobile studio—a van equipped with cameras and editing gear—to train filmmakers in rural Limpopo and townships.
“Why should talent migrate to cities to be seen?” he asks. It’s a nod to his roots, where creativity thrives despite scarce resources.

Reflecting on his journey, Sekonya cites meeting Nando’s co-founder Robbie Brozin as a career highlight.
“His passion for South African culture inspires me. We live in the best country in the world,” he says.

The accolades keep rolling in: Nando’s Youth Content Creator of the Year (2023), TILT Rockstar (2023), and inclusion in the prestigious Yes 35 Under 35 list (2024), along with the Yes Creative Award. But for Sekonya, the proof of impact isn’t in awards. It’s in the hum of a camera held by hands long excluded from the frame and in the energy of projects like Short Film Sundays, which have already started shaping the future of South African filmmaking.

“They say our stories matter,” he shrugs. “I’m making sure they matter to us first.”