Kagiso Sam Leburu

Kagiso Sam Leburu (born on 23 April 1984) in South Africa. He is a cinematographer and director. Quotes There are many violent killings in black communities in South Africa, with a significant number of victims being women. Patriarchy is still deeply rooted within these communities, and it often exists alongside a culture where gangsterism is glorified. Leaders can be seen as heroes or villains depending on who is looking. But the one mask that feels universal, the one symbol everyone recognises and can attach meaning to, is the balaclava. It is globally understood and almost always tied to crime. That is why I chose that title. No matter what other mask you think of, once you see a balaclava, it carries a very specific weight. And that is what led me to name the film “Balaclava”. There are many violent killings in black communities in South Africa, with a significant number of victims being women. Patriarchy is still deeply rooted within these communities, and it often exists alongside a culture where gangsterism is glorified. You even see situations where individuals implicated in serious crimes are still admired. My approach to the visual style is rooted in artistry and emotion. We used upside-down shots to create tension and evoke a sense of unease for the audience. And yet I needed to make the film as minimalistic as possible. You can see if someone has bad intentions without them speaking. Someone can say “I love you”, but their eyes will tell you if they truly do. That was very intentional for me. The performance is based purely on the eyes because the voice can lie, but the eyes do not lie. I still needed to ensure that it remained about a young girl and an elderly male figure. That core relationship had to stay. Then, I also needed to include the in-between characters, the ones we do not usually speak about, which is the wife and mother. All of these elements needed to be reflected because they speak to the broader reality of South Africa, to the state of the country. It was filmed in the Northwest, and it cost me around 400,000 Rands. I raised the funds through my freelance work as a director in the film industry. I literally raised the money myself to shoot it. What also helped was the equipment I had at my disposal. A friend of mine granted me access to the equipment for free. That really worked in our favour. Because of that, the expenses were not too high Adedamola Adedayo is a film journalist and critic with a special interest in African cinema. Through writing and audiovisual mediums, he creates conversations around cinema in Africa and the Diaspora. You can find him on Instagram @jonesthegoodboy and X on AdedamolaAdeda4. Kagiso Samuel Leburu on Telling a Story of Silence, Power, and Female Oppression in “Balaclava”,April 18 2026 Category:Cinematographers Category:People from South Africa Category:1984 births Category:1980s Category:Living people