Featured photograph courtesy of Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF)
Thousands of miles may separate Africa and Latin America, but a recent exchange revealed a profound connection between storytellers from each continent and region, respectively: a deep reverence for the ocean.
Fifteen emerging filmmakers from Africa, Latin America, India, the United States and Puerto Rico — including seven National Geographic Explorers — participated in a South to South exchange program supported by Ladera Sur and Africa Refocused, a collaboration between Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) and the National Geographic Society. While collaboration is central to NEWF’s mission as a pan-African community of nature and wildlife storytellers, South to South is their first initiative dedicated to cultivating talent and building connections across continents.
National Geographic Explorers Maritza Lavín and Shamier Magmoet shoot their film, Eliphephile, at NEWF’s Dive Center.
Photograph by Emmanuel Egonu, courtesy of Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF)
“The idea of creating an exchange between Latin America and Africa was something that Noel and Pragna and I had been talking about for a few years, and thanks to the vision and support of [National Geographic Society] we were able to achieve it,” said National Geographic Explorer and 2025 Wayfinder Award recipient Martín del Río, who founded the Santiago Wild Film Festival and Ladera Sur. “I am very interested and hopeful that this alliance can continue to grow and provide many tools to as many people as possible.”
In March, the cohort gathered at NEWF’s Sodwana Bay Storytelling, Research and Dive Center to explore the ocean through film and sound. After 10 days of diving into the deep, they co-created three short films celebrating their collective spirit and shared connection to nature.
“There was something about this cohort that connected so deeply, so beautifully, creatively, but also spiritually,” said Noel Kok, NEWF Co-Founder and National Geographic Explorer. “What was so exciting was the level of creativity that just kept on coming out. And I think it shows in some of the films.”
National Geographic Explorer Shamier Magmoet and NEWF Global Fellow Ozair Bakht collaborated on short film Eliphephile alongside Explorer Maritza Lavín, and NEWF Fellows Manuel Novillo and Samira Vera-Cruz.
Photograph by Emmanuel Egonu, courtesy of Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF)
National Geographic Explorers Shamier Magmoet and Maritza Lavín, as well as NEWF Fellows Manuel Novillo, Samira Vera-Cruz, and Ozair Bakht, collaborated on Eliphephile, a short documentary about Nombuso, a young woman from Sodwana Bay, South Africa who interns at NEWF’s dive center, her friendships with other young locals, and her relationship with the water. As Nombuso navigates uncertainty and self-doubt, she draws strength from her community, which mirrors the ocean’s resilient spirit.
The cohort used Nombuso’s direct quotes in the film instead of writing a script for her to narrate. Nombuso’s friends, also interns at NEWF’s dive center, assisted with lighting, scouting film locations and selecting frames. Collaboration and knowledge-sharing were key to their creative process.
“Every day we exchanged knowledge and experience on the different work we did, and our history and cultures,” Magmoet said. “Our group of scientists, musicians and filmmakers was a beautiful combination to make meaningful and impactful stories that would surely illuminate the wonders of the natural world that surrounds the locals from Sodwana Bay.”
National Geographic Explorers and NEWF Fellows Dércio Muha Gomate and Daniel Venturini edit their film, O mar para Analine (Sea to Analine), at NEWF’s Sodwana Bay Storytelling, Research and Dive Center, known affectionately as eKhaya – the word for home in the isiZulu language.
Photograph by Emmanuel Egonu, courtesy of Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF)
The second film, O mar para Analine, which translates to “Sea to Analine,” follows musician and Explorer Dércio Muha Gomate (who goes by Muha), as he composes a song for his niece, Analine. Since Analine never learned how to swim and feels no connection to the sea, Muha sets out to record a song with the sounds of coral. His journey is fraught with challenges, but as he connects with the sea’s rhythms, he realizes that music is felt, not just heard. Muha’s gift for Analine becomes a profound lesson on the power of music to bridge worlds and connect us to the natural world.
NEWF Fellow Yarminiah Rosa felt deeply moved and inspired by her colleagues, Explorers Husna Amimu, Lucía Flórez, Dércio Muha and Daniel Venturini, while co-creating O mar para Analine.
“By the end of our ten days together, Sea to Analine had become something greater than the sum of our individual efforts — it reflected a shared curiosity and playfulness toward the ocean that we, as co-creators, embraced throughout the process,” Rosa shared. “I learned so much from my colleagues, each of whom brought a unique blend of expertise, personality and brilliance to our collaboration, teaching me how to navigate the dance between personal vision and collective expression.”
For Flórez, highlighting Muha’s story was especially meaningful.
“I truly admire his courage and vulnerability,” Flórez said. “Through his openness, we were able to access deeper layers of Mozambican culture.”
National Geographic Explorer and NEWF Fellow Daniel Venturini pre-dive in Sodwana Bay, South Africa.
Photograph by Emmanuel Egonu, courtesy of Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF)
The filmmaking process profoundly impacted Explorer Daniel Venturini. Later this year, he will lead a masterclass on editing for NEWF Fellows and is now collaborating with Brazilian filmmakers on a new film, inspired by his experiences in South Africa.
“Sea to Analine came together in such an organic way, and the process taught me to trust the flow, let go of some ideas, stand firm on others, respect and be respected,” Venturini said.
In Khuthaza, Zulu for “encourage,” two boys from Sodwana Bay overcome their fear of the ocean, rooted in local folklore. Through mutual encouragement, they find the courage to scuba dive, replacing fear with a sense of belonging.
The shores of Sodwana Bay, located on the east coast of South Africa. The 10-day exchange program facilitated the co-creation of three underwater films, each exploring the Fellows’ distinct relationships with the ocean.
Photograph by Emmanuel Egonu, courtesy of Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF)
Explorer and documentary photographer Pablo Albarenga created Khuthaza alongside NEWF Fellows Labdi Ommes, Daniela Rakos, Asier Schwarzlose and Explorer Gérard Zinzindohoué in less than two weeks, a feat that reminded him of the power of collaboration, especially across cultures.
“Khuthaza emerged from the meeting of different voices and perspectives, shaped by shared stories forged in the Global South,” Albarenga said. “It’s a testament to what can happen when we listen deeply and create together.”
Zinzindohoué, who had never created a film before Khuthaza, learned about the importance of centering human perspectives in conservation stories from his colleagues.
“Facts alone aren’t always enough to inspire change. What stays with people and moves them to take action is how a story makes them feel,” Zinzindohoué said. “I now try to bring that into my work, to talk not just about the science, but also about what it means for people, and why it matters on a human level.”
Zinzindohoué’s experience also shifted his outlook on the ocean. “Being part of this project helped me to once again see the ocean from another perspective as something that’s part of people’s daily lives: shaped by fear, memory and tradition,” he recalled.
South to South, and NEWF’s ocean access program by extension, are intentionally supporting Global South storytellers across continents by providing access to cutting-edge equipment, outdoor spaces and industry mentors. As exemplified by these three new films, the exchange amplifies nature and wildlife storytelling told by and through the lives, perspectives and experiences of African and Latin American people.
“I’m profoundly grateful for this journey,” Albarenga said. “To learn from others whom the map may have placed far apart, but whose stories made them feel so close.”
After the March workshop, filmmakers joined NEWF’s dynamic community of Fellows — storytellers, scientists, and conservationists from Africa and beyond. Rough cuts screened at NEWF Congress in South Africa and Santiago Wild Film Festival in Chile this spring.
O mar para Analine is a finalist for a 2025 Jackson Wild Media Award in the “Global Voices” category. Khutaza and Eliphephile have also been entered into film festivals around the world. In addition, through NEWF’s knowledge-share program, Khutaza and Eliphephile are being featured in local communities and schools.
Building on the success of South to South in South Africa, NEWF and Ladera Sur will launch a second exchange in Latin America. This marks the next phase of their collaboration, enabling filmmakers like Flórez to further explore powerful similarities between Africa and Latin America and experiment with documentary storytelling.
“This was an unprecedented experience, one I hope more people get to live,” Flórez said. “It stirred deep parts of my identity that I’m still unpacking.”