Xoliswa Sithole

Xoliswa Sithole

(She/Her)
Producer and Director (Documentaries)
Nayanaya Pictures
Xoliswa Sithole is a documentary filmmaker who is a two-time BAFTA winner/ Banff Winner/ Peabody and International Emmy Nominee amongst other awards.She is the founder of nayanaya pictures.
Full Bio
Xoliswa Sithole is the founder of nayanaya pictures (www.nayanayapictures.com) she is a 2 time BAFTA (3 times nominated) and Peabody awarding winning producer/director who is drawn to films focusing on social justice and has produced and or directed 23 documentaries. She has worked with Charlayne Hunter-Gault as associate producer of 2 documentaries Mandela Man of our Times and From Triumph to Transition. Xoliswa produced the documentary Shouting Silent (Showtime) which explored the vulnerabilities of young girls who lost their mothers to HIV - having lost her own mother to HIV/Aids herself. Some of her work includes Orphans of Inkandla a BAFTA winner and nominated for an International Emmy award. She worked with True Vision TV - UK as the SA co-producer. She was one of the producers on a channel 4 Documentary South Africa’s Lost Girls with True Vision and was nomina¬ted for a BAFTA. A BBC documentary Zimbabwe’s Forgotten Children was shot entirely undercover (Peabody and BAFTA winner) Xoliswa Sithole co-directed a series called Free at Last on South Africa's unanswered questions (winner of best documentary series Prix Italia award 2025) and is finishing a documentary called Let Then Die them Quietly on how South Africa, Brazil and India fought big Pharma to have access for cheaper medicines. .

Xoliswa Sithole is currently developing a project called‚ Mandela Man of Peace exploring Mandela’s global peace efforts and a 3 part series in pre-production on Climate Justice. As one of her many passions Xoliswa runs a film festival on gender and cultural issues in South Africa. She is a member of BAFTA, a founding member of filmmakers against racism. Xoliswa Sithole has had fellowships and speaking engagements at Universities globally.
Professional Credits
FREE AT LAST SERIES - Unanswered Questions of Apartheid (CO-DIRECTOR)
WON
2025 PRIX ITALIA BEST DOCUMENTARY SERIES
NOMINATED
2025 BANFF

ZIMBABWE'S FORGOTTEN CHILDREN (PRODUCER AND PRESENTER)
WON
2011 AFTA Award
2012 2011 BROADCAST DIGITAL AWARD
2011 PEABODY Award
2011 FF Award
2012 2011 RORY PECK SONY IMPACT AWARD
2011 AIB AWARD Best Documentary
2011 GOLD at the CHICAGO FILM FESTIVAL Award
NOMINATED
2011 Nominee PRIX EUROPA
2012 2011 Official Selection UNITED NATIONS Film Festival

SOUTH AFRICA'S LOST GIRLS (PRODUCER)
NOMINATED
2011 Shortlisted GRIERSON AWARDS Best International Documentary
2011 Shortlisted AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Media Awards
2011 Shortlisted FREEDOM TO CREATE Prize
2011 Nominee ONE WORLD MEDIA Award Children’s Rights
2010 Official Selection LA FEMME Film Festival

ORPHANS OF INKANDLA (PRODUCER)
WON
2004 BAFTA Award
2004 ONE WORLD MEDIA Award Best TV Documentary
2004 ONE WORLD MEDIA Award Children’s Rights
2004 MONTE CARLO Film Festival UNESCO & Red Cross Award
2004 TELECINCO 12th MESES, 12 Causes Documentary Award

NOMINATED
2004 Honouree RIBBON OF HOPE Awards
2004 INTERNATIONAL EMMY Outstanding Informational Programming
2004 MONTE CARLO Film Festival – Golden Nymph Award
2004 Special Honour ACADEMY OF TELEVISION Arts and Sciences
2004 BANFF Best Social and Political Documentary
2004 BROADCAST AWARDS Best Documentary
2004 ROYAL TELEVISION SOCIETY AWARDS Best Documentary
2004 ROYAL TELEVISION SOCIETY AWARDS Best Photography
Industry Awards
FREE AT LAST SERIES - Unanswered Questions of Apartheid (CO-DIRECTOR)
WON
2025 PRIX ITALIA BEST DOCUMENTARY SERIES
NOMINATED
2025 BANFF

ZIMBABWE'S FORGOTTEN CHILDREN (PRODUCER AND PRESENTER)
WON
2011 AFTA Award
2012 2011 BROADCAST DIGITAL AWARD
2011 PEABODY Award
2011 FF Award
2012 2011 RORY PECK SONY IMPACT AWARD
2011 AIB AWARD Best Documentary
2011 GOLD at the CHICAGO FILM FESTIVAL Award
NOMINATED
2011 Nominee PRIX EUROPA
2012 2011 Official Selection UNITED NATIONS Film Festival

SOUTH AFRICA'S LOST GIRLS (PRODUCER)
NOMINATED
2011 Shortlisted GRIERSON AWARDS Best International Documentary
2011 Shortlisted AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Media Awards
2011 Shortlisted FREEDOM TO CREATE Prize
2011 Nominee ONE WORLD MEDIA Award Children’s Rights
2010 Official Selection LA FEMME Film Festival

ORPHANS OF INKANDLA (PRODUCER)
WON
2004 BAFTA Award
2004 ONE WORLD MEDIA Award Best TV Documentary
2004 ONE WORLD MEDIA Award Children’s Rights
2004 MONTE CARLO Film Festival UNESCO & Red Cross Award
2004 TELECINCO 12th MESES, 12 Causes Documentary Award

NOMINATED
2004 Honouree RIBBON OF HOPE Awards
2004 INTERNATIONAL EMMY Outstanding Informational Programming
2004 MONTE CARLO Film Festival – Golden Nymph Award
2004 Special Honour ACADEMY OF TELEVISION Arts and Sciences
2004 BANFF Best Social and Political Documentary
2004 BROADCAST AWARDS Best Documentary
2004 ROYAL TELEVISION SOCIETY AWARDS Best Documentary
2004 ROYAL TELEVISION SOCIETY AWARDS Best Photography
Crew Up Survey
Willing To Travel: Yes
Has Own Equipment: No
Has Insurance: No
Other Languages: No
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