Ian Gabriel is a South African director of colour whose experience in film and theatre began at Dorkay House - Johannesburg's renowned anti-apartheid theatre - where he worked with legends of South Africa's jazz and theatre scene.

Recently, he collaborated with his writer-actor son, Gabe Gabriel, on comedy feature Runs in the Family. Written by and starring Gabe, and directed by Ian. In a poignant and hilarious road trip tale, a father/son duo - Varun and River - embark on an adventure to rescue River's estranged mother from rehab, only to rush back to the city in time for River's Drag performance. The film is set to release on Netflix in 2023.

Ian directed the Netflix crime series Ludik (2022). Ian worked closely with actor Arnold Vosloo, reprising the relationship the two established when Ian directed Forgiveness (2004), which won the Best South African Film Award and Best African Film Award, was a Golden Leopard nominee at the 2004 Locarno Film Festival, and won the Locarno Youth Jury Best Film Award and Human Rights Award in the same year.

Ian is currently developing Death Of a Whistleblower - a true events investigative thriller 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 Four Corners (2013), was the South African Official Submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards, was awarded Best International Feature and Best Feature (USA) at the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival, won Best Film at the 2014 Niagara Integrated Film Festival; won 6 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. His film also received the Best Picture Award.

Ian has worked as a commercial director in the Americas and throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. His work with celebrity talent includes human rights icon and activist Nelson Mandela, Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, aviation hero Chelsey Sullenberger, and many 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 (Strong Island, 2017) on the historic TV Series, Sabela Gold (2017). He is developing Papwa, a historical feature film about legendary South African golfer Papwa Sewgolum, with producer Rafiq Samsodien.

Ian is a director in good standing at the DGA, is a participant in the DGA Diversity program, and is represented in USA by Paul Canterna (Seven Summits Film) and Justin Silvera (Silvera Management). Ian's production company, Giant Films - 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.

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Ian Gabriel

Director

Writer

Producer

Second Unit or Assistant Director

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