David's CV

Curriculum Vitae

David Forbes, S.A.S.C., is an award-winning independent South African producer, director and cameraman with a film background that began 28 years ago. A filmmaker with a mission.

His latest film, “The Cradock Four” made over seven years, won Best SA Documentary at the Durban International Film Festival 2010 and was nominated for Amnesty Internationall Durban Human Rights Award. He also ran a film festival in a squatter camp for the Foundation for Human Rights (FHR) and initiated a “Cinema to the People” project.

He spent most of 2009 shooting “The Cradock Four”, (incl dramatic recreations), then spent six months editing both films in Paris (a 52’ & a 92-min feature version). He was invited to a think-tank organised by the Nelson Mandela Foundation (Makings Pasts in Post Apartheid SA), and was asked to present a paper in Ethiopia, at the UN-sponsored ICADLA-1 Conference, on African archives. He facilitated corporates for Accenture (Mauritius) and Microsoft (Mozambique).

Technically, David is a top television director/cameraman, with awards from Cannes and London, to local Loeries and Visible Spectrum Awards. David loves high-energy, and he brings creativity, speed and commitment. He has worked in 32 countries (21 African) on hundreds of commercials and documentaries, scores of corporates, and more than 20 features.

He has produced two dramas, a handful of doccies, co-directed four short films and directed many TV commercials and documentaries. He is also a Wits Business School graduate. Currently he sits on the policy-making film industry body, the SA Screen Federation (SASFED), is a founding member of the Independent Producers’ Organisation (IPO), and is an executive member of the Documentary Filmmakers’ Association (DFA). His forte is strategy and marketing.

In 2008 shot a CNN Heroes piece, and Unicef chose him to film Lucy Liu in Cote d’Ivoire, US Idol Clay Aiken in Somalia and Kenya, and the Maddens (the rock band Good Charlotte) in Central African Republic. He shot several corporates, notably HSBC and Anglo American. In 2007 he did four Unicef projects while on chemotherapy, Clay Aiken (Afghanistan), and fundraisers (Swaziland, Dafur, and India). In 2006 he produced a pilot “The Manuscripts of Timbuktu”.

In 2005 he worked extensively on the Wits University Origins Rock Art Museum, shooting hours of aerials. He conceptualised, produced, and directed a display for the award-winning Mohale’s Gate Museum at the Cradle of Humankind and filmed the war zone of northern Uganda. In 2004 he directed a corporate for the Saudi Arabian CAA, and shot Unicef films on Laurence Fishburne & Lucy Liu. In 2003, he shot CBC’s HIV-Aids doc “The Value of Life” for “The Nature of Things with David Suzuki”, SA struggle hero bio “A South African Love Story – Walter and Albertina Sisulu”, and “Winter Is July”, a political short film. He attended MIPDoc and MIP-TV in Cannes, and the SA Society of Cinematographers gave him an award and invited him to join.

In 2002 he shot the Aussie award-winning 13x26 min doc “AfriCan Solutions”, and a CBC doc on the World Summit on Sustainable Development. He was DOP on the 13x26-min “S’camto Groundbreakers II”, shot in 16 days, with 17 cameras and six crews. He worked on the award-winning US doc “The 12 Disciples of Nelson Mandela”, shown on PBS’s POV. In 2001 he shot the 6x52-min series “Tobias’s Bodies” presented by paleontologist Phillip Tobias, and shot SA’s first reality show, “S’camto Groundbreakers”. In 2000, Wall To Wall TV (UK) tapped him for “The Elephant Whisperer”, and “The Dune People” (won an award). His first film as DOP in 1988 won the 1989 Weekly Mail Short Film Competition, but he left for Australia, returning in 1991 after Mandela was freed. Commercials he has shot won a Silver Lion at Cannes, a statue at the London International Advertising Awards, and three Loeries. David knows all film, video and Hi Def formats. His aerial filming logbook is 98 hours. He is a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver.

Selected Commercials Filmography:

Directors: Giaco Angelini (Ita), Jorge Rubier (SA), Jeff Darling (Aus), Mike Middelton (SA), Ian Wilson (SA), Miles Goodall (SA), Ross Nichols (Aus), Paul Jarreau (US), Keith Rose (SA), Brett Wild.

Accounts: American Express, Mercedes Benz, Lays, Fosters Lager, Nedbank, Volkswagen, Toyota, Camel, Rank Xerox, Amstel, Ford, Mazda, Nestle, SAB, SA Airways, Firestone, Sales House, Standard Bank, MTN, Vodacom, Telkom, Samsung, Yardley, Seiko, Steinhoff, IEC, Gautrrain, Didata.

Selected Corporate Filmography:

2009: “Accenture Mauritius” corporate, Mauritius for Just Like Me Inc, NY. Prod/Dir/Cam: D Forbes. Fac Co: Shadow Films.

2009: “Microsoft ADPP” corporate. Mozambique. Facilitator: Shadow Films (SA) for Vision Quest Productions Inc, for Garrigan Lyman Group (USA).

2009: “Save The Children: Day of the African Child” for Save The Children (UK). Dir/Cam/DOP: David Forbes. Fac Co: Shadow Films.

2008: “Anglo American” ON Communications (UK). Dir: John Simmons. DOP: David Forbes

2008: “HSBC Video Wall” Hubbub (UK), HI Def. Dir: Simon van der Borgh (UK) DOP: David Forbes

2008: “HungerFREE Women in Mozambique” with Graca Machel. Corporate film. Action Aid International. Prod/Dir/Cam/Editor: David Forbes. Fac Co: Shadow Films.

2007: “US Fund for Unicef” fundraisers in India, Sudan, Swaziland Dir/DOP: David Forbes

2005: “The Talker” Mohale’s Gate Museum, Maropeng. 2 min display. Dir: David Forbes

2004: “The Falcon Terminals: The Saudi Aviation Story” 20 min, DigiBeta. Dir/Cam: D Forbes

2004: “Khulanati” Corporate for World Association of Girl Guides. Dir/Cam: David Forbes.

2003: “Secure The Future” Bristol Myers Squibb. 1 x 15-min Corporate. Producer: Reni Mitchell from MultiVu (USA). Director/DOP: David Forbes. Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, SA.

2003: “SASAR” Corporate for SA Search & Rescue Org. Dir/Cam: D Forbes. 3 Cameras, aerials, air to air, sea rescue etc.

2003: “Nelson Mandela” videotaped corporate speech to Marseilles Corporate Dinner Party.

2001: “The Cobra Club of SA” CTN TV (DVCam 16:9) 1 x 13-min Corporate Dir/Cam: D Forbes

1998: “Kusile–A New Beginning” (SP,10 min) Dir/Cam: D Forbes. Corp to sell SDI investment.

1998: “Durban 2003” (DV, 10 min) Dir/Cam & 3 hours of aerials: David Forbes. Corp Comm for SA to winPIARC international congress for Durban in 2003 (They won the bid!).

1997: “The Mail & Guardian” (Beta SP 7 min) Dir: Marc Radomsky. Corp Commercial.

1997: “The Wild Coast” (Beta SP, 17 min) Dir: Marc Radomsky. Corp Commercial. DOP & 16 hours of Aerials: David Forbes

1995: “Old Mutual 150 Years” (Beta SP 13 min) Corp Doccie. Dir: Bruce Paynter & David Scholfield (SA, Zimbabwe & Hong Kong). DOP: David Forbes

Selected Doccie Filmography:

2009: “Elephant Vasectomy” for Discovery Channel Canada. Prod/Dir?Cam: David Forbes.

2009: “Black Beach” doccie for BBC. SA shooting. Fresh One Productions (UK). DOP: D Forbes.

2009: “Health Education in Manjacaze” in Mozambique for PBS’s Wide Angle. Filmator AB Norden Aktiebolag. Facilitation Co: Shadow Films.

2008: “Joel Madden in CAR” Unicef. Dir/DOP: David Forbes

2008: “Clay Aiken in Somaliland” Unicef. Dir/DOP: David Forbes

2008: “Clay Aiken in Kenya” Unicef. Dir/DOP: David Forbes

2008: Lady Manchem IV for Channel 4 doc series: “High Society: Dale Tryon” made by Monkey Factual (UK). Dir: Page Reece-Shepherd DOP: David Forbes. Location: Seychelles.

2008: “US Fund For Unicef” Lucy Liu in Cote d’Ivoire. Dir/DOP: David Forbes

2008: “CNN Heroes” in Ethiopia Dir/DOP: David Forbes

2007: “Clay Aiken” in Afghanistan for Unicef Dir/Cam/Snd/Stills: D Forbes. HDV in Afghanistan.

2006/7: “The Cradock Four” (Pilot, 8 min) Hi Def. Prod/Dir/Cam/Edit: D Forbes

2006: “The Manuscripts of Timbuktu” 11 min & 3 min Hi Def. Dir: Z Maseko, Prod/DOP: D Forbes

2005: “Clay Aiken” for Unicef Dir/Cam/Snd: David Forbes. Mini-DV on location in Northern Uganda

2004: “Lucy Liu” for Unicef Dir/Cam: David Forbes DigiBeta on location in Lesotho

2004: “Lawrence Fishburne” for Unicef Dir/Cam: David Forbes. DigiBeta on location in RSA

2003: “Living Machine” Sea Studios Foundation for National Geographic 4 x 52-min High Definition (additional photography in SA only).

2003: “The Value of Life” CBC 52 min for David Suzuki’s “The Nature of Things”. Dir: Judy Jackson. DOP: David Forbes. Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and SA.

2003: “A South African Love Story – Walter & Albertina Sisulu” SABC. Dir: Toni Strasburg. DOP: David Forbes, Robben Island, Transkei, Gauteng, CT.

2003: Intro for “Bill Gates and David Moyes debate” PBS Middlemarch Films Dir/Cam: D Forbes.

2003: “Clifton Beach, Cape Town” for Travel Channel via Kaos Entertainment. DOP: David Forbes.

2002: “The 12 Disciples of Nelson Mandela” Chimpanzee Prod (USA) DVCam, Dir: Thomas Allen Harris, DOP: David Forbes.

2002: “A View from the Summit” CBC, 1 x feature length doccie for David Suzuki’s “The Nature of Things”. Dir: Hadley Obodiac, DOP: David Forbes

2002: “AfriCan Solutions” Thought Films (Aus), DVCam 13 x 26-min series on technology in Africa. Dir: Robin Newell, DOP: David Forbes. Locs: SA, Moz, Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, Malawi.

2001: “Race Against Time” 1 x 55-min for “The Nature of Things” with David Suzuki. Canada’s CBC w/ UN Special Envoy Stephen Lewis. Dir: J Jackson. Camera: D Forbes (CT, KZN, Gauteng area).

2001: “Tobias’s Bodies” Curious Pictures (DVCam) 6 x 52-min doccie series with Phillip Tobias, Jane Goodall, et al. Dir: Guy Spiller DOP: D Forbes

2000: “The Dune People” (DigiBeta 16:9, 26 min) Wall To Wall (UK) for Geo (Arte) Dir: Nick Brown (US), DOP & aerials: David Forbes. On Location in Namibia.

2000: “The Elephant Whisperer” (DigiBeta 16:9, 26 min) Wall To Wall (UK) for Geo (Arte) Dir: Krishna Govender DOP: David Forbes On location in the Okavango Delta.

1998/9: “Main Reef Road” (SP, DVCam) Dir: Nic Hofmeyr, Additional photography.

1998/9: “The Liberal and the Pirate” Dir: Guy Spiller (16mm, SP, DVCam) 52-min DOP: D Forbes

1998: “Mapangubwe” (DVCam 16:9) Dir: Lance Gewer (Additional Photography for 52-min doccie)

1998: “The Long Tears – An Ndebele Story” (SP, 52 min Co-Prod SABC 3) Prod/Dir/Cam

1997: Series: “ESPU” (Digital Sony 13 x 26 min) Director/Cameraman & aerials. Series director: P Gasek (US) Wildlife cop show for Animal Planet, Discovery Channel (US) (Feb-Nov 1997).

Awards & Festivals Filmography:

2010: “The Cradock Four” wins Best SA Documentary at Durban International Film Festival. Hi Def, Prod/Dir/Cam: David Forbes SASC.

2010: “The Cradock Four” nominated for Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award.

2010: “The Cradock Four” invited to Encounters Film Festival, Tri-Continental Film Festival, Aluta Film Festival, Leuven Film Festival (Belgium), History Makers Awards (USA), One World International Film Festival (Czech Republic), Festival de cinéma de Douarnenez (France), Amnesty International's Movies that Matter Festival (Holland), Special Event at Africa on Screen Film Festival.

2010: “The Cradock Murders: Matthew Goniwe & the Demise of Apartheid”, selected for IDFA 2010, for competition in the Festival of Liberties 2010 (Belgium),

2010: “Have you heard from Johannesburg?” wins Distinguished Limited Series Award at the International Documentary Association’s 2010 Awards. Dir: Connie Field. SA DOP: David Forbes

2009: “The Manuscripts of Timbuktu” winner of Walter Mosley Award (Real Life Doc Film Festival-Ghana 2009) Dir: Z Maseko, HDCam, DOP: David Forbes & N Hofmeyr

2009: “The Manuscripts of Timbuktu” – official selection for the IDFA festival 2009. Dir: Z Maseko, HDCAM, DOP: David Forbes & N Hofmeyr

2006/2007: Cancer break.

2006: ”The 12 Disciples of Nelson Mandela” Independent Spirit “Truer Than Fiction” Award Nomination. DOPs: David Forbes and Jon Karvel.

2005: “The 12 Disciples of Nelson Mandela” wins Jury Prize for Best Documentary at Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles. Dir: Thomas Allen Harris, DOPs: David Forbes and Jon Karvel

2005: “The Talker” Display at Mohale’s Gate Museum at Maropeng, Cradle of Humankind. Museum was winner of British Guild of Travel Writers’ Award for “Best New Tourism Projects Worldwide”.

2004: “The Long Tears” screened at Commonwealth Film Festival in Manchester, UK.

2003: David Forbes invited to become member of SA Society of Cinematographers (SASC).

2003: “Tobias’s Bodies” wins Ide Suisse Award (First Prize) at Basel-Karlsruhe Festival 2003 for Best Educational Programme for Adults 2003, cited for “excellence of technical quality and beauty of the footage”.

2003: “The Dune People” Wins Silver Visible Spectrum Award for cinematography.

2003: “Tobias’s Bodies: Are we all Africans?” wins for “Creative Excellence” (Science) at US International Film and Video Festival “in recognition of outstanding audio-visual production”.

2003: “AfriCan Solutions” wins 3 Chris Awards - Honorable Mention x 2 (Science & Technology) and x 1 (Social Issues) at 51st Columbus International Film & Video Festival 2003.

2001: “The Long Tears – An Ndebele Story” Invited to 2001 Parnu Film Festival in Estonia.

2000: “The Long Tears – An Ndebele Story” Official Selection for competition in Astra 2000 Film Festival in Sibiu, Romania (Oct 2000), and also for the Southern African Film Festival 2000 in Harare.

1999: “The Long Tears – An Ndebele Story” Screened at Sithengi Film Market, Fespaco ‘99 in Burkino Faso, Mipcom in Cannes, Natpe in the USA, and IDFA in Holland. Requested for 2000 Milan Film Festival and for Toronto Film & Video Festival 2000. Sold so far to 11 European countries.

1996: Nedbank “Youths” commercial. Silver Lion at Cannes, Statue at London International Advertising Awards, Special Mention at 1996 Loerie Awards.

1996: “Mabhoko: The Ndebele” (Beta SP 15 min) doccie pilot. Dir, Prod, DOP: David Forbes. Screened at SA Film Market , Cape Town, Nov 1996.

1996: “Business Against Crime” TVC. Special Mention at 1996 Loerie Awards

1994: “Peace” Commercial. Category Winner at 1994 Loerie Awards.

1994: “Fatal Abuse” (Beta SP, 17 min) DOP: David Forbes. Developing Visions Project (Soweto Group) Screened at 1994 Weekly Mail Film Festival.

1994: “Gatvol” (Beta SP, 17 min) DOP: David Forbes. Developing Visions Project (Eldorado Park Group) Screened at 1994 Weekly Mail Film Festival.

1993: “Crossing the Line” (U-matic Hi-band, 25 min) Dir: Mike Rudolph, starring Sean Taylor, Jenni Steyn and Susan Coetser) 2nd prize in 1993 Weekly Mail Short Film Competition

1992: “Enthombe” Hononary Mention at 8th Journees du Cinema Africaine et Creole, Montreal.

1991: “Enthombe” Wins “Best Film” and 1st prize in docs at 3rd Weekly Mail Short Film Competition.

1991: “Wise to the Jive” (Beta SP, 8 min) Dir: Nadine Dreyer, Tech Dir & DOP: David Forbes 1992 Weekly Mail Short Film Competition, (Bafta) screening in London 1992

1990: “The Boxer” won “Best Documentary” at 12th DIFF

1989: “The Boxer” (16mm, 20 min) Dir: Guy Spiller, DOP: David Forbes Winner 1989 Weekly Mail Short Film Competition, Screened at British Association of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) in 1992

Training & The Industry

David has been active in training for 22 years. He wrote and ran the first-ever Clapper Loader Course in SA in 1987. He founded The Camera Guild in 1993. He helped form the PAWE TSC (trade union) and chaired it for a year, helped form the SA Guild of Editors and the Art Department Guild, and was a founder of the Consultative Committee’s Training Trust Fund. He helped train producers and directors for “Dramatic Encounters”, and mentored several young people, including two street kids. David is a founding IPO member. He helped M-Net’s student VUKA! Training, and at Soho Editors. He is active in the The Producers’ Alliance and the Documentary Filmmakers’ Association, where he headed Strategy and Comms. He also sat on the Board of Sithengi in 2007/8 before resigning over corporate governance issues. In 2010 he was elected as an executive committee member for the policy-making body of the SA film industry, the SA Screen Federation (SASFED).