Cleo Matuwane was born in 1992/03/18 in a small village called Pampierstad in the Northern Cape, she is a first born out of five siblings. Proudly Xhosa by religion and Tswana by blood, a vocalist, story writer, dancer, video-grapher and photographer.

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Favorite quote - “Our flaws make us, without scars one wouldn’t know what surviving feels like”. Growing up as a dark skinned girl (in and outside) my community was a bit self-consciously challenging, I later I realized that my "dark chocolaty" skin was and still is the most beautiful part amongst a million, the difference in us does not define who we are but, make out what we are.

Filming and photography has always been a passion of mine, I had to wait for the right time focus on school before… and indeed at the right God ‘given time', I did the most. My first project was in 2012 I had just completed matric and I presented, directed and scripted a documentary, with Born Talented Projects (BTH) founded by Thabo Mshali about society issues around Diepsloot.

I became popular around my community and I started getting gigs for Video graphing and editing with the assistance from @Obi Praise and @Honest Diebolic, with connections linking to The Wot-if? Trust, where I was connected with different media departments and workshops that contributed to gaining more experience in the filming industry. 2016 a production came to Diepsloot Straight 2 Media… to shoot a movie titled voices of faith, Produced by Chris Avant Smith, directed by Alan Farber. I played the role of a location scouter and Production secretary.

It’s not always easy… it becomes hard along the way, so it takes determination, hard work, focus and vision to archive a set of goals you have. In a production there will be hiccups big or small, things fall apart it is part of the industry and I am always ready for a challenge.

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Mzansi Womens Film Festival played a huge role in aspiring me to take my love for filming and photography further...TO TELL STORIES ABOUT WOMEN , FOR WOMEN through film.

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My third Project was 48 Hours Film Festival, the mot dramatic production setting ever...different opinionated people, egotistic and unique set of  team.#DiepArtment on a movie titled Requiem. Film makers around Diepsloot came together to work on a single project for a common goal #Diepsloot 2030 #SMPC (Sloot motion picture collaboration), the movie was nominated in the category (Best new comer of the year) unfortunately the trophy was taken by the opposing team.

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Recently  produced a movie "Sthandwa Not money" with Ndlondlo Production founded by Hamilton Dlhamini.

 

"I create with my hands and my mind is the motivation behind every piece produced, art is engraved and rooted from within my heart."

 

Cleo