'Give us the juice': Black Brain to film Durban Music Fest documentary

TimesLIVE

24-04-2025

Black Brain Pictures is set to give people a front-row seat to the Durban Music Festival.
Recently the production company's founder Mandla N jetted off to Durban to meet the organisers of festival to discuss shooting a documentary.
The festival is taking place at Moses Mabhida Stadium on May 3 and will feature US rapper Rick Ross, DJ Sox, DJ Bongz, Big Zulu, Sjava, DJ Tira and Mawhoo, among others.
Asked what inspired him, Mandla N told TshisaLIVE: "It's easy: storytelling. We see storytelling in everything. The way the festival is positioned, this is a melting pot of content that must be shared — not just with festival goers but the world over.
"As storytellers, we're inspired by the city, the talent and the music. Content is king and so we want it all — the good, the bad, the ugly, the successes. Give us the juice.
Nyiko Bilankulu
Notable artists and influencers will be involved in the documentary, he said.
"We'll be documenting everything from planning, the build-up, talents, even the key players that actually bring these events to life. It's going to be really exciting.
"We respect them all in their own right. We'll get to zoom in a little bit on what it takes to bring you the performances you see on stage. It's interesting to see the selection of artists that will be performing.
"And of course Rick Ross, being an iconic artist, has an interesting story to tell. He is entertainment at its best. We cannot wait to show the world the different sides."
Mandla said the festival promises to be a night to remember. As film makers they want to be part of the magic and contribute to history as they create legacy stories.
"Durban is the playground of South Africa. You want to dance? Eat? Go to the beach? Well, that's Durban — so of course the documentary will be centred around various thematic approaches."
Blue Screen Entertainment shared a statement on Thursday expressing their excitement for this collaboration.
"We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Black Brain Pictures to produce an exciting documentary for the Durban Music Fest. This film will highlight South Africa and the vibrant city of Durban as a cultural hub and a flourishing music community," it said.
"Our primary goal is to promote tourism and attract international acts to come and collaborate with our incredibly talented local artists. Through this documentary we hope to showcase the rich musical landscape and diverse cultural offerings of South Africa, allowing the world to see the immense talent we have and the welcoming spirit of our vibrant tourism scene."