THE APEX TIMES
Netflix names 14 South African trainees for ScreenCraft Pathways as program is renewed for a second cohort
The ScreenCraft Pathways placement will embed young creatives in local production and post-production partners for a competitively remunerated 12-month period, with the next cohort set to begin training in 2027.
Netflix has selected 14 young South Africans to take part in its ScreenCraft Pathways training programme, placing them for the next year inside the country’s film and television production and post-production companies. The company said the announcement was made at a Youth Month event in Johannesburg on June 4, 2026, in collaboration with the Gauteng Film Commission and the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority.
Netflix also said ScreenCraft Pathways has been renewed for a second cohort, with training scheduled to kick off in 2027. In its release, the streaming company framed the programme as a structured “pathway” into screen work - aimed at building long-term competitiveness for South Africa’s production sector, not just offering individual placements.
Each trainee will receive a competitively remunerated 12-month placement in a “below-the-line” role of their choosing - spanning pre-production, production, and post-production - while working with Netflix’s local production partners. Netflix said trainees will be mentored by working professionals on active productions, alongside access to specialized workshops led by Netflix focused on skills development, technical production, career advancement, and networking.
Netflix named the inaugural cohort as Thobeka Nkosi, Lebohang Tsotetsi, Paballo Segalagala, Noluthando Tshazibane, Reotshepile Mohutsiwa, Tiny Mapodile, Ikageng Madia, Nontobeko Mbhele, Keletso Lesetla, Tyler-Vorne Arendse, Sipho Nuse, Bryoni Baxter, Didintle Ledwaba, and Chloe Beukes. The programme is administered by Tshikululu Social Investments and delivered in partnership with the Gauteng Film Commission and the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority.
The placements will be embedded within a network of South African production partners that Netflix listed as Burnt Onion, Quizzical Pictures, The Refinery, Midnight VFX, Rechord Post, Mushroom Media, and Gambit Films. In a statement, Netflix Director of Global Affairs for Middle East, Turkey and Africa Pelin Mavili said the company wants talent to have a structured pathway into the industry and argued that when young South Africans work on “world-class productions,” the benefits extend across the industry, economy, and audiences.
Sector officials involved in the announcement echoed the “learning-to-employment” framing. Keitumetse Lebaka, CEO of the Gauteng Film Commission, called ScreenCraft Pathways an investment in the future of the local film and television industry, saying access to real productions and practical workplace experience helps bridge the gap between talent and opportunity. Sibusiso Gumbi, acting CEO of the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, said South Africa’s film industry cannot grow sustainably without deliberate investment in the people who will drive its future and described the programme as a practical response to weak pathways from training into employment.
Netflix did not disclose some practical specifics in its release, including the exact remuneration figures for trainees, the selection criteria and application process for this cohort, or whether participation includes any explicit job guarantees after the 12-month placement. It also did not provide details on the size or placement mix for the 2027 cohort beyond the renewal announcement. Going forward, applicants and industry watchers may focus on the timing and terms of the next round of applications, along with how trainees’ on-set and post-production experience translates into longer-term roles in South Africa’s screen sector.
Why It Matters
- The initiative underscores Netflix’s strategy of strengthening local production talent pipelines - potentially supporting both supply and quality of content created in South Africa.
- By coupling government and industry partners with paid placements, the programme aims to address a common gap between training and employment in screen-sector labor markets.
- The 2027 renewal suggests Netflix intends to treat talent development as an ongoing commitment rather than a one-off cohort.
- If scaled, ScreenCraft Pathways could help increase the depth of South Africa’s behind-the-scenes workforce, which is often essential for sustaining high-volume production.
Key Facts
- Netflix named 14 young South Africans as the first ScreenCraft Pathways cohort, with placements running for 12 months.
- ScreenCraft Pathways is a below-the-line, on-the-job training programme spanning pre-production, production, and post-production roles.
- The programme is administered by Tshikululu Social Investments and delivered with the Gauteng Film Commission and the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority.
- Trainees will be competitively remunerated and mentored on active productions, with access to specialized workshops and networking.
- Netflix said ScreenCraft Pathways is renewed for a second cohort, with training scheduled to begin in 2027.
- Netflix listed local production and post-production partners including Burnt Onion, Quizzical Pictures, The Refinery, Midnight VFX, Rechord Post, Mushroom Media, and Gambit Films.
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