Leo Phiri(I)
- Producer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Additional Crew
Currently Head of Production at Known Associates Entertainment, Leo's first notable work was as a Director in the acclaimed HIV/AIDS documentary 'A Fighting Spirit' (STEPS), a special jury prize winner at the 2002 BANFF Film Festival. The year 2001 saw Leo collaborating as co-Director with South African filmmaker Rehad Desai ('Miner's shot Down') in the internationally acclaimed documentary film 'My land My Life', a story that tackles the land issue in Zimbabwe commissioned by Australian broadcaster SBS.
In a career spanning almost 30 years, credits as a Feature Film Assistant Director include Idrissa Ouedraogo's 'Kini and Adams', Charles Burnett's "Namibia- The Struggle for Liberation" and Raoul Peck's 'Lumumba'.
Leo has become one of South Africa's most sought-after Television Producers with producing credits for popular TV shows that include 'Muvhango' and 'Isidingo' and Line Producing credits for 'Uzalo', 'Imbewu' and the first African Netflix Original Documentary Crime Drama Series 'Senzo:Murder of a soccer star'. Leo is the Creator and Executive Producer for all content under the 'Being Mandela' production banner, a content platform that Produced 'Nelson Mandela' themed content in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation to celebrate Madiba's centenary year in 2018. The first film project under the banner 'Joko Ya Hao' directed by Mmabatho Montsho and nominated in the 2020 South African Film and Television awards for 'Best short Film' was picked up by Showmax and Mnet. The 2nd film 'July 18th is' directed by Mandla N was completed in 2023.
As Producer, Leo's first Feature length film 'Blind Eye', a drama that explores municipal corruption in Kwa-Zulu Natal was released by evod in 2023 and has been picked up for worldwide distribution by Known Associates Entertainment's distribution arm. As of 2021 Leo has been Showrunner on 'ubettina Wethu', a South African adaptation of the popular Colombian telenovela 'Yo soy Betty, La fea' produced by Known Associates Entertainment.
In a career spanning almost 30 years, credits as a Feature Film Assistant Director include Idrissa Ouedraogo's 'Kini and Adams', Charles Burnett's "Namibia- The Struggle for Liberation" and Raoul Peck's 'Lumumba'.
Leo has become one of South Africa's most sought-after Television Producers with producing credits for popular TV shows that include 'Muvhango' and 'Isidingo' and Line Producing credits for 'Uzalo', 'Imbewu' and the first African Netflix Original Documentary Crime Drama Series 'Senzo:Murder of a soccer star'. Leo is the Creator and Executive Producer for all content under the 'Being Mandela' production banner, a content platform that Produced 'Nelson Mandela' themed content in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation to celebrate Madiba's centenary year in 2018. The first film project under the banner 'Joko Ya Hao' directed by Mmabatho Montsho and nominated in the 2020 South African Film and Television awards for 'Best short Film' was picked up by Showmax and Mnet. The 2nd film 'July 18th is' directed by Mandla N was completed in 2023.
As Producer, Leo's first Feature length film 'Blind Eye', a drama that explores municipal corruption in Kwa-Zulu Natal was released by evod in 2023 and has been picked up for worldwide distribution by Known Associates Entertainment's distribution arm. As of 2021 Leo has been Showrunner on 'ubettina Wethu', a South African adaptation of the popular Colombian telenovela 'Yo soy Betty, La fea' produced by Known Associates Entertainment.
