Yolanda Ncokotwana is the Head of Department (HOD): Industry Development at the NFVF.

Ncokotwana is a TV and film professional. Her experience spans across live productions, documentaries, and scripted content. She began her television career in broadcasting where she worked her way up from the production department to becoming a Commissioning Editor. As a story consultant, she has worked on over 30 titles including multiple award-winning films. As a Development and Production Manager she was responsible for overseeing funding on documentary projects like Buddha in Africa, The Sound of Mask, Skulls of my People, How to Steal a Country, Influence, etc. Ncokotwana is responsible for managing the co-development incentives and has recently spearheaded the Netherland/SA co-development fund and the NFVF/Netflix coproduction initiative.

Ncokotwana is a solid Project Manager who has organised finance forums on behalf of the NFVF and has previously been part of a team that led SABC content strategies for various flagship programmes and international sporting events such as the 2014 FIFA, World Cup, the 2015 Cricket World Cup, 2011/2015 Rugby World Cup and the 2016 RIO Olympic Games.

Ncokotwana holds a BTech degree in Film & Television Production from the Tshwane University of Technology and is currently pursuing a BA in Creative Writing. She has done short courses in Project Management and Customer Service and is an alumnus of the Sediba Producers’ Programme and has participated in many panels locally and internationally including Berlinale and Cannes.

Department focus areas: Production & Development Funding; Fiction, Non-Fiction, Animation & Documentary; Skills Development & Training Funding; Co-Production Funding