Cape Town · Est. 1998
Not defined
by budget.
Defined by ambition.
A production isn’t defined by its budget. It’s defined by what you do with the relationship between the idea, the resources and the ambition.
50+
Years of combined experience
1998
Producing since
5
Countries filmed across Africa
50
Productions in the reel
01 — The Studio
Directing, camera
and production
under one roof.
With more than 50 years of combined experience spanning directing, cinematography, production and a range of creative disciplines, MUTI brings different perspectives and approaches to every project.
Since 1998, MUTI FILMS has brought this experience to a broad range of creative work, across feature films, short films, music videos, commercials and other forms of visual storytelling. From its home in Cape Town to productions in Ghana, Guinea, Uganda, Eswatini and beyond, the team has worked across different production environments and cultures — bringing the same creative and practical approach to every project.
- Directors and cinematographers in-house, not brokered out
- Comfortable in Cape Town studios and remote African locations alike
- Award-winning craft from Cannes Lions to kykNET Silwerskerm
02 — Selected Clients
MTNBritish AirwaysCoca-ColaWestern UnionStandard BankAbsaMartellSASFIN BankBestmedRichfieldCeltelGreenCapeMetropolitanSobraguiCape Town TourismBarloworldEnterpriseSunday Independent
03 — Feature Film
MUTI FILMS Production
Gangster’s
Paradise:
Jerusalema
South Africa’s official Academy Award submission for Best Foreign Language Film — a MUTI FILMS production, and the clearest measure of what this team does when the ambition outruns the budget.
- Director Ralph Ziman
- Producer Tendeka Matatu
- Co-Producer Guto Bussab
04 — Our Work
The Reel
Fifty productions across feature film, music video, commercials and branded content. Every title plays right here on the page.
Films
10 Titles · Feature films, shorts and series.
Director Roger Young
Producer Shanna Friedman
Executive Producer Guto Bussab
DOP Alfonzo Franke/Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
Executive Producer Guto Bussab
DOP Alfonzo Franke/Guto Bussab
Director Roger Young
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Imraan Christian
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Imraan Christian
Director Guto Bussab
DOP Guto Bussab
DOP Guto Bussab
Music Videos
6 Titles · Work for artists across South Africa and West Africa.
Director Guto Bussab
Producer Fui Tsikata
DOP Guto Bussab
Producer Fui Tsikata
DOP Guto Bussab
Director Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab
Director Guto Bussab / Alfonzo Franke
Producer Fui Tsikata
DOP Guto Bussab / Alfonzo Franke
Producer Fui Tsikata
DOP Guto Bussab / Alfonzo Franke
Director Alfonzo Franke
Executive Producer Shanna Freedman
Producer Julienne Fenwick and Hezron Chetty
DOP Imraan Christian
Executive Producer Shanna Freedman
Producer Julienne Fenwick and Hezron Chetty
DOP Imraan Christian
TV Commercials
22 Titles · Campaigns for global and pan-African brands.
Director Guto Bussab
Producer Annah Dieng (Guinne) / Shanna Freedman (SA)
DOP Alfonzo Franke / Guto Bussab
Producer Annah Dieng (Guinne) / Shanna Freedman (SA)
DOP Alfonzo Franke / Guto Bussab
Director Guto Bussab
Co-Director Zac Disko Modirapula
Producer Vincent Paneng
DOP Guto Bussab
Co-Director Zac Disko Modirapula
Producer Vincent Paneng
DOP Guto Bussab
Content
12 Titles · Branded content, documentary and profile work.
Director Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab/Alfonzo Franke
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab/Alfonzo Franke
Director Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Richard Aaron
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Richard Aaron
Director Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab
Director Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab
Director Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab
Director Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab
Director Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab
Director Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab
Producer Shanna Friedman
DOP Guto Bussab
05 — The Team
The people
on the floor.
Founder · Director · Cinematographer
Guto Bussab
Guto Bussab was born in São Paulo, Brazil, where he graduated with an Honours Degree in Social Communication at Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing in 1993. His work in advertising began in Brazil before he moved to South Africa in 1994 to work as an art director, winning international accolades including the Cannes International Advertising Festival, New York Festivals and London Awards, as well as Loerie Awards locally, for Leo Burnett.
A passion for film led him to launch MUTI FILMS in 1998. Since then he has directed and shot TV commercials locally and abroad for MTN, British Airways, Western Union, Sobragui, Richfield and SASFIN Bank, alongside music videos, branded content and the web series GAZE. The critically acclaimed feature Gangster’s Paradise: JERUSALEMA, directed by Ralph Ziman, was a MUTI FILMS production co-produced by Guto.
Guto was part of the team that brought the World Design Capital 2014 title to Cape Town, becoming one of the programme’s curators. He is also a multidisciplinary fine artist who has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in South Africa and abroad.
Director · Director of Photography
Alfonzo Franke
Born and raised in Cape Town, Alfonzo Franke has navigated the extreme dichotomy of South African culture with unbridled determination. He honed his filmmaking talents in some of the roughest suburbs and cities in South Africa and carved his place in the industry, founding Tarblak Films as an independent production company before joining MUTI FILMS.
His talent for finding beauty where others might not has led to a rich and subversive body of work as a Director of Photography — winning the kykNET Silwerskerm Best Cinematography award in 2024 and Best Video at the SA Hip-Hop Awards in 2019, among others. He has worked on film and advertising projects around the world.
Alfonzo brings that same energy onto the pitch, leading and representing the Springboks onto the field at home games as one of its Impis. He is fuelled by a desire to uplift the Cape Flats and other previously disadvantaged communities, believing that “creative hubs have the power to provide the resources and support needed in such communities.” He gives MUTI FILMS its “make it happen” attitude.
Head of Photography · Social Media
Owami Twala
Owami Twala was born in Johannesburg in 1996 and raised in Cape Town. She graduated with an advanced certificate in photography at VEGA School of Brand & Marketing and has worked as a social media manager, content creator and photographer for numerous brands and events.
Vibrant and charismatic with a passion for all things creative and cultural, Owami adopted those traits from her mother, Shado Twala, the radio and TV personality whose inspiring legacy Owami is committed to carrying forward both personally and professionally. She now hones her talents at MUTI FILMS as head of photography and social media management — while also serving as the company’s unofficial head of great vibes.
Researcher · AI Specialist · Crew
Alex Ray Burton Bussab
Alex Ray is a proud South African, born in Johannesburg and raised in Cape Town, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Psychology at Emerson University in 2025.
He began his career teaching English out of a passion for literature and history, while acting in numerous adverts and film productions. Those experiences, along with a developed taste for writing music — his logical step forward from poetry — led him to work as a voice actor for Blended Audio, notably featuring in Juny Tony as Alpa the alpaca. Alex is the AI specialist, researcher and crew member of the MUTI FILMS family.
“Creative hubs have the power to provide the resources and support needed in such communities.”
Alfonzo Franke · Director & DOP
06 — Contact
Send us
a brief.
Treatment, budget range, or just an idea you’re circling — we’ll tell you straight what it takes to make it.
-
STUDIO
Woodstock Exchange, Unit B201
66 Albert Road, Woodstock
Cape Town, South Africa -
EMAIL
production@mutifilms.co.za