Jemima has always known what she wanted to do in life: make films. Despite coming from a filmmaking family, there were a few obstacles to overcome – like, “You want to do what? Are you crazy?” – and other distractions along the way. So she diligently spent three years doing a BSc (Hons) in Genetics and another two years getting an MA (With Distinction) in The History of Scientific Thought at Leeds University, UK, before taking the plunge and entering the world of film and tv.

She began as a researcher and proposal writer in the UK, before heading back to South Africa to participate in the 1994 elections and work on election information programming. The pull of home proved to be too great, despite nearly 7 years in the UK, and she returned to South Africa permanently at the end of 1994. Six months of working in film publicity followed, initially in South Africa and then Zimbabwe, where she was unit publicist on the controversial film ‘Flame’ and designed their campaign for the Cannes Film Festival.

She was then fortunate enough to be able to get experience in most aspects of filmmaking, working on feature films and tv dramas as an assistant director, production co-ordinator & manager and continuity person. Her credits include Tsitsi Dangarembga’s ‘Everone’s Child’, Ramadan Suleiman’s ‘Fools’, Neil Sundstrom’s drama series ‘Homeland’, the Jackie Chan feature ‘Who Am I?’ as well as a number of the Nu World action films that were the staple of many South African film crew at the time.

Writing has always been and continues to be a key element of Jemima’s career and she worked on her own scripts while gaining experience in the industry. In 1998, she decided to concentrate on this area and spent two years as a full-time writer doing voice-over scripts for the magazine series ‘Top Billing’, docu-drama scripts for a wide variety of educational and training programmes, concept documents, proposals and drama treatments; whilst continuing to work on her own film ideas.

At the end of 1999, Jemima made the move from visualisation through scripting to the realisation of this vision through directing and she researched and directed a number of insert series for youth for the SABC strand ‘Take 5’, focusing on topics like violence against girls, HIV and literacy. At the same time, she started Griffin Films with her partner Simon Damast. This gave her the opportunity of also learning the technical and creative challenge of editing – and discovering a passion for the craft that continues to date.

Jemima and Simon produced the 26 part magazine series ‘Vuyani Mzantsi’, which focused on South African “feel good” stories for SABC2, and documentaries on artists Noria Mabasa and Jackson Hlungwani. Jemima directed, shot and edited the documentary ‘Sticks & Strings’ on the ground-breaking Handspring Puppet Company, which was selected for the Fribourg Film Festival. ‘iHoliday eTranskei’, which she co-directed and edited with Bongo Marala, was selected for the Encounters, Tri-Continents and Apollo Film Festivals and nominated for Best Documentary in the 2006 South African Film and Television Awards. Jemima conceptualised, produced and was a member of the directing team of the first season of ‘Mantswe a Bonono’, a series for SABC2 that showcased South African writers. One of her episodes ‘Free to Be’ won a Silver Screen Award at the US International Film & Video Awards.

At the same time, she continued to occasionally freelance on commercials during the Cape Town season, keeping in touch with the world of film.

2006 brought the formation of Free Range Films and the opportunity to consolidate and develop Jemima’s existing experience and interests as part of an exciting new collaboration with Tina-Louise Smith. With Tina-Louise, Jemima produced ‘Masupatsela’, working on animation for the first time and relishing the opportunity to showcase the unsung heroes who are working to stem the tide of HIV and AIDS in this country. She was a member of the directing team and an editor on the second season of ‘Mantswe a Bonono’.

Jemima is currently working on the scripting of ‘Ropes’, a drama series that has been commissioned by SABC. ‘Ropes’, based in East London, explores the world of boxing and an unlikely friendship between two men.

Together with Tina-Louise, she is involved in the development of a range of new projects for Free Range Films. These include feature films, drama series and one-offs, documentaries, educational and entertainment formats.

She is interested in a wide range of topics from social issues to business to history, but is particularly inspired by uplifting stories and community development, a thread that is found in much of her factual work. When it comes to drama, however, she is drawn to stories that are rather darker …

Jemima also loves teaching and has ensured that there is a training element in most of the projects she has worked on. It has been extremely fulfilling for her to watch the progress of young people she has worked with, as they make their way forward in the industry. She has recently formalised this interest by offering short courses in a number of areas that she has identified as gaps in the industry.