Ian Gabriel is a renowned South African director of colour, whose extensive experience in film and theatre began at Dorkay House, Johannesburg's iconic anti-apartheid theatre, where he had the privilege of working with legendary figures from South Africa's jazz and theatre scene.
Recently, he collaborated with his writer-actor son, Gabe Gabriel, on the comedy feature film Runs in the Family. Written by and starring Gabe, and directed by Ian, the poignant and hilarious road trip tale follows a father-son duo as they embark on an adventure to rescue the son's estranged mother from rehab, only to rush back to the city in time for the son's Drag performance. The film is set to release on Netflix in 2023.
Ian's work includes directing the Netflix crime series Ludik in 2022, which marked a reunion with actor Arnold Vosloo, whom he had previously worked with on the film Forgiveness in 2004. Forgiveness was a critical and commercial success, winning numerous awards, including the Best South African Film Award and Best African Film Award, and earning a Golden Leopard nomination at the 2004 Locarno Film Festival.
Ian is currently developing the true events investigative thriller Death Of a Whistleblower, written by Louis Viljoen and Philip Roberts, and produced by Joel Phiri and Tshepiso Sello. The film will explore the biological warfare in Africa and the Middle East, starring Noxolo Dlamini, Deon Coetzee, and Irshaad Ally.
Ian's feature film Four Corners, released in 2013, was the South African Official Submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards, and went on to win numerous awards, including Best International Feature and Best Feature at the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival, and Best Film at the 2014 Niagara Integrated Film Festival. The film also received six Golden Horn South African Film and Television Awards, including Best Actor, awarded to the youngest nominee to date in that category, first-time child actor Jezriel Skei.
Throughout his career, Ian has worked as a commercial director in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa, collaborating with a wide range of celebrity talent, including human rights icon and activist Nelson Mandela, Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, aviation hero Chelsey Sullenberger, and numerous film, fashion, and sports personalities such as Charlize Theron, Cristiano Ronaldo, Alex Wek, and Haile Gebrselassie.
Ian is a development partner with 2018 Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Joslyn Barnes on the historic TV series Sabela Gold, and is developing the historical feature film Papwa, about legendary South African golfer Papwa Sewgolum, with producer Rafiq Samsodien.
As a director in good standing at the Directors Guild of America, Ian is a participant in the DGA Diversity program and is represented in the USA by Paul Canterna and Justin Silvera. His production company, Giant Films, which was named 2021 Ciclope Africa Production Company of the Year, is headed by Ian, along with his partner, Executive Producer Cindy Gabriel, and collaborator and Executive Producer Emmy Lundy.
