Born in Durban and raised in KwaNonginqa in the uMzimkhulu Local Municipality, emerging filmmaker Lungisani Lucas Gwadiso is gaining international recognition as his short film, A Shepherd’s Joy, has been officially selected for screening at the Miami Beach Film Festival in the United States, taking place on 9 – 10 May 2026.
Gwadiso is the founder of LLG and Partners Films and the Harry Gwala Film Institute, through which he continues to nurture creative talent in his community. In 2025, he made history by launching the district’s first-ever film festival, the Harry Gwala International Film Festival, creating a new platform to elevate local storytellers.
“In my school of thought, characters are the cells of a story because they drive the plot and give life to the narrative. When we develop stories, my concept lab approach looks at the anatomy of a story, examining its characters, themes, and conflicts to understand what may be missing. This process is especially important when amplifying local stories, because authentic characters allow us to reflect the lived realities of our communities. When audiences see characters who speak their language, carry their struggles, and reflect their culture, storytelling becomes more than entertainment, it becomes a mirror of society and a tool for preserving our identity,” says Gwadiso.
A Shepherd’s Joy, supported by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) under the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP 5), marks Gwadiso’s second completed film out of four projects he has written and directed.
The short fictional drama is set in present-day rural Eastern Cape, in the villages of Matatiele (KwaMzongwana). It tells the story of Gcinikhaya, a disheartened school dropout who becomes a herd boy after being sent to work for a wealthy flock owner. Facing harsh treatment and difficult conditions, he is initially paid with six barren ewes as his annual wage.
Through perseverance, guidance from his father, and a deep sense of care, Gcinikhaya learns how to nurture the animals and overcome the challenges of his environment. Using music and kindness in his work, he gradually earns respect and improves his circumstances. Ultimately, he returns home with renewed dignity, grows his flock, and partners with his father to build a sustainable family livelihood.
“Local stories have incredible power, but many fail to see the light of day because of high barriers. The Presidential Employment Stimulus really did wonders for us as emerging filmmakers; if it wasn’t for this program, we wouldn’t be exposed to such great opportunities,” says Gwadiso.
Since its inception, the Presidential Employment Stimulus has created over 2.2 million opportunities across all its programmes. For A Shepherd’s Joy, the filmmaker took the production to Matatiele, in the Eastern Cape, creating nearly 50 livelihood opportunities. This is common as a research survey in the creative sector highlights the wide range of multiplier and stimulus effects generated through the funding, such as additional revenue streams, with sustainability effects beyond the life of the programme.
“The Creative Stimulusi is a business model that worked exceptionally well – through film production we get the opportunity to contribute to value chain in underserved areas like Matatiele and Harry Gwala, and I’m happy that NFVF is reaching out to such places to provide accredited skills to aspiring film practitioners in an industry that involves every business sector in it,” adds Gwadiso.
In addition to his latest achievement, Gwadiso has also written and directed several award-winning documentaries, supported by international partners including the European Union, Brot für die Welt, and Sesotho Media and Development in Maseru, Lesotho. Gwadiso’s growing body of work reflects a commitment to telling authentic, rural South African stories while creating opportunities for others in the creative sector.
