Oliver Hermanus

Oliver Hermanus is a South African film director and writer whose work has earned international acclaim for its profound exploration of identity, sexuality, and the lingering shadows of apartheid. Born on 26 May 1983 in Cape Town, he spent his early childhood in Plettenberg Bay, growing up in a modest house built by his father in the hills where his 'coloured' family was barred from the town centre. His parents, both ANC activists, fostered a rebellious spirit at home, burying banned books in the garden and homeschooling his older siblings, while still commuting to a nearby school in the Eastern Cape. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Film, Media, and Visual Studies from the University of Cape Town, Hermanus worked as a press photographer for the Cape Argus, a position that led to a pivotal mentorship with German director Roland Emmerich, who awarded him a private scholarship to the London Film School where he completed his master’s degree. His debut feature, Shirley Adams (2009), inspired by a story from his sister, an occupational therapist, follows a single mother caring for her paraplegic son; the film garnered multiple awards at the Durban International Film Festival and South African Film and Television Awards. Hermanus continued to push boundaries with Beauty (2011), the first Afrikaans‑language film in Cannes competition, winning the Queer Palm and SAFTA for Best Director, and sparking heated debates on gay issues, repression, and racial tensions. Subsequent works such as The Endless River (2015), the first South African entry to compete for the Golden Lion at Venice, and Moffie (2019), a haunting portrait of a gay soldier during the Angolan war, solidified his reputation for unflinching storytelling. In 2022 he broke new ground with Living, an adaptation of Ikiru starring Bill Nighy, earning Academy Award nominations for both acting and adapted screenplay. His most recent projects, including The History of Sound and the television miniseries Mary & George, demonstrate a continued commitment to nuanced, character‑driven narratives. Openly gay, Hermanus lives in Barrydale and remains a vital voice in contemporary cinema.