Quizzical Pictures is one of South Africa's leading film and television production houses.
A black-owned company (level 2 BBBEE) with thirty years of experience, we enjoy a solid reputation as a creative innovator in the industry and have won countless awards over the years, including a prestigious Peabody Award for Intersexions, and a Rose D’Or for Hopeville.
We are recognised for the quality of our productions, our rigorous research, attention to detail and a commitment to telling resonant and relevant stories.
Our reel includes hit shows like Intersexions, Heartlines, Masterchef, Rhythm City, iNumber Number, MTV Shuga - Down South, The Girl from St Agnes, Savage Beauty, Reyka, Desert Rose, White Lies, and Hartklop the first Afrikaans medical drama on KykNet.
WHITE LIES
Journalist Edie Hansen (Natalie Dormer) gets caught up in the Cape’s ugly underworld after her brother is murdered in the wealthy neighbourhood of Bishopscourt in Cape Town’s southern suburbs. Dragged back into her tumultuous childhood, Edie’s investigation soon puts her at loggerheads with veteran detective Forty Bell (Brendon Daniels). It forces her to grapple with the crumbling local police force, a corrupt political system, and the secretive world of extreme wealth.
REYKA (SEASON 2)
Set at the Durban harbour, tghis season is about a serial killer who targets couples at a coastal lookout spot called Lover’s Lane. The story picks up a few months after Speelman has been arrested at his banana farm. He is institutionalized at a facility for sex offenders. Meanwhile, Reyka has been seconded to the Durban Harbour Police Station where she is busy building the profile of a killer who targets couples at Lover’s Lane.
A SOWETO LOVE STORY
A mother challenges her 3 sons to find their perfect partners before the New Year. Their incentive? - the first son to find a makoti will be crowned the sole heir to the Ngubeni home.
iNUMBER NUMBER - FOOL’s GOLD:
When a jaded undercover cop is tasked with unraveling a historic gold heist in Johannesburg, he's pushed to choose between his conscience and the law.
SAVAGE BEAUTY Seeking revenge for her tragic past, a mysterious woman embeds herself in a powerful family who possess a global beauty empire, as well as dark secrets
DESERT ROSE
The Greyling siblings reunite at their family home in the Namaqualand desert in the Northern Cape after one of them reneges on a decade-long deal to settle the debts they took on when their father (Neil Sandilands from DAM and Sweet Tooth) abandoned them and disappeared.
Over the last twenty-six years, Quizzical Pictures has created some of South Africa’s best loved film and television.
Here is just a taste of some of the work we are proud of.
BEYOND THE RIVER
Beyond the River is the nail-biting true story of two men whose quest to win gold connects them on and beyond the river. It is based on the story of Piers Cruikshanks of Dabulamanzi Canoe Club and Siseko Ntondini of the Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club who, against all odds, won gold in the 2014 Dusi Canoe Marathon.
THE LUCKY SPECIALS
The Lucky Specials are a small-time cover band in a dusty mining town in southern Africa. Mandla (Oros Mampofu) works as a miner by day, but is passionate about playing guitar and dreams of making it big in the music industry. When tragedy strikes, Mandla, his friend (Sivenathi Mabuya) and the band must find the strength to make their dreams reality.
A COUNTRY IMAGINED
Presented by Johnny Clegg, A County Imagined, is an unusual rewarding journey through South Africa as it explores the landscapes that have inspired artists, writers, musicians and dancers for centuries.
MASTERCHEF S.A.
MasterChef South Africa is a reality cooking competition. This popular entertainment show has thrilled viewers in over 33 countries helping amateur cooks realize their food dreams. Thousands of hopefuls will cook for the chance to be a part of the MasterChef kitchen. They will be scrutinized by South Africa's leading culinary experts as they battle it out for the title of MasterChef. Season 3 concluded in December 2014. Celebrity MasterChef SA is coming soon in 2015.
Umlilo follows the Simelanes, an affluent Johannesburg family headed by the dynamic patriarch Mnqobi, a self-made man in his 40s who is in a polygamous marriage with two wives and a possible third. Mnqobi Simelane (Hamilton Dhlamini) is a successful businessman and global player on the brink of landing a lucrative business deal that would make him and his partner happy.
Swartwater is a South African, Afrikaans-language television drama series which tells the story of a successful urban couple, Karen and Francois le Roux, who, after the tragic death of their only child, escapes to the idyllic fishing village of Swartwater in an attempt to rescue their fragile relationship.
HARD COPY SEASON IV
After a hiatus of eight years the much loved local newsroom drama Hard Copy returns to SABC3 screens for a fourth season. The show is set in the newsroom of a struggling independent newspaper. The series originally ran for three seasons between 2006 and 2008 and was heralded as a breakthrough for its dynamic, kinetic approach to visual storytelling.
INTERSEXIONS
Relationships between ordinary people in South Africa unfold as the HIV infection chain enters their lives.
White Lies, a high-quality eight-episode show produced by Quizzical Pictures and
Fremantle and filmed in Cape Town with lead director John Trengrove, feels like the most
Netflix-like series M-Net has ever done.
‘Reyka’ Producer Quizzical Pictures Sets Crime Series ‘Murder by the Sea’ From ‘White Lies’ Writer Darrel Bristow-Bovey (EXCLUSIVE)
White Lies’
(Fremantle)
Game of Thrones alum Dormer leads this South Africa-set thriller, playing a journalist who teams up with a local detective (Daniels) to investigate the ugly underbelly of the wealthy Cape Town neighborhood of Bishopscourt after her brother’s bloody murder.
Channel 4 has acquired South African detective drama The Cane Field Killings, starring Kim Engelbrecht (Bullet Proof, The Flash, Eye in the Sky) and Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey). The eight-episode series, which launched last year to rave reviews in South Africa, will launch on Channel 4 on 10th April 2022 at 10pm. All episodes will then be available on All 4.
Australia’s Goalpost Pictures and South Africa’s Quizzical Pictures are teaming up on the crime series “Detective Cooper” for South African broadcaster M-Net, marking the first TV co-production between the two countries.
The young adult film made for African youth, “Shaina”, was the opening film at the Halifax Black Film Festival (HBFF) in Nova Scotia, Canada this week and will enjoy a sneak preview at the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) next week in Los Angeles.
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
Best Achievement in Art Direction (Savage Beauty) - Marna Heunis
Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama (Savage Beauty) - Nthati Moshesh
Best Achievement in MU & Hairstyling (Desert Rose) - Marika Callop
Best Achievement in Wardrobe (Desert Rose) - Tracey Berg
Best Achievement in Directing (Desert Rose) - Cindy Lee
NATIONAL FILM AND TV AWARDS (NFTA) - SOUTH AFRICA
Best Newcomer 2023 - Rosemary Zimu (Savage Beauty)
Best Scripted TV Series 2023 - Savage Beauty
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
BEST ACTRESS IN A TV DRAMA (Reyka) - Kim Engelbrecht
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY TV DRAMA (Reyka) - Tom Marais
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING TV DRAMA (Reyka) - Catharine Cooke & Zwelesizwe Ntuli
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCRIPTWRITING TV DRAMA (Reyka) - Rohan Dickson
SERIES MANIA CO-PRO PITCHING AWARDS WINNER
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
Best Actor - TV Soap (Rhythm City) - Jamie Bartlett as David Genaro
Best Supporting Actor- TV Comedy (Single Galz II) - Warren Masemola as Anthony (Care Taker)
Best Children’s Program - Restyle My Style IV
AFRICA MOVIE ACADEMY AWARDS
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
The Lucky Specials - Quizzical Pictures
THE NEW YORK FESTIVALS WORLD MEDAL
Human Concerns Category
The Lucky Specials - Quizzical Pictures
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
Best Achievement in Directing - TV Drama
iNumber Number - Catherine Cooke, Rolie Nikiwe, Rea Rangaka
Best Achievement in Cinematography - Feature Film
Beyond The River - Trevor Calverley
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
Best Achievement for Lead Actress - TV Comedy - Those Who Can’t - Chantal Herman
Best Achievement for Supporting Actress - TV Comedy - Those Who Can’t - Sylvaine Strike
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
Best TV Drama - Umlilo - Quizzical Pictures
Best Achievement in Cinematography - TV Drama Umlilo - Jonathan De La Querra
Best Achievement in Art / Design Production - TV Drama Umlilo - Vallery Greonewald
Best Achievement in Script-writing – TV Drama Umlilo - Writing Team
Best Achievement in Art / Design Production - TV Comedy Those Who Can’t - Amanda Scholtz
Best Achievement in Script-writing – TV Comedy Those Who Can't - Writing Team
Best Achievement in Cinematography - TV Comedy Those Who Can't - Brendan Barnes
Best Achievement for Lead Actress - TV Comedy Those Who Can't - Robyn Scott
Best TV Soap Rhythm City - Quizzical Pictures
Best Achievement in Script-writing -TV Soap Rhythm City - Writing Team
Best Achievement in Directing -TV Soap Rhythm City - Directing Team- Eric Mogale, Siyabonga Mkhize, Heather Cooke
Best Achievement in Sound Design- TV Movie RISE -Janno Muller
Best Achievement in Editing- TV Movie RISE - Kholofelo Malatshi
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
Best Achievement in Editing - TV Comedy - Lastborn does The Loeries - Kholofelo Malatshi
Best Achievement in Cinematography - TV Comedy Lastborn does The Loeries - Moabi Maseko
Best Achievement in Art / Design Production - TV Drama Swartwater - Marna Heunis
Best Game Show Clover Little Big Cook Off - Quizzical Pictures
Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – Feature Film iNumber Number - Donovan Marsh
Best Achievement in Editing - Feature Film iNumber Number - Donovan Marsh
Best Actor in a lead role - TV Comedy Single Guys - Thomas Gumede (Zanele)
Best TV Drama Swartwater - Quizzical Pictures
Best Achievement in Directing -TV Drama Swartwater - John Trengove, Jozua Malherbe, Denny Miller
Best Actor in a lead role- TV soap Rhythm City - Jamie Bartlett
Best Achievement in Directing – Feature Film iNumber Number - Donovan Marsh
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
BEST TV DRAMA - Intersexions Season 2
BEST ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA - Intersexions Season 2 - Siyabonga Thwala
BEST ACTRESS IN A TV DRAMA - Intersexions Season 2 - Tina Jaxa
BEST DOP/CINEMATOGRAPHER OF A TV DRAMA - Intersexions Season 2 - Tom Marais
BEST ART DIRECTIONS OF A TV COMEDY - Those Who Can't - Amanda Scholtz
BEST WRITER OF A MADE FOR TV MOVIE - Inside Story - Writing Team
BEST DIRECTOR OF A MADE FOR TV MOVIE - Inside Story - Rolisizwe Nikiwe
BEST SOUND DESIGNER OF A FEATURE FILM - Nothing for Mahala - Jim Petrak
JOZI FILM FESTIVAL
iNumber Number - Audience Choice Award
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
BEST TV DRAMA SERIES - 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls
BEST DIRECTOR ON A TV DRAMA SERIES - 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls - Amanda Lane
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA SERIES - 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls - Pallance Dladla
BEST ACTRESS IN A TV DRAMA SERIES - 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls - Tiffany Jones-Barbuzano
BEST WRITING TEAM ON A TV DRAMA SERIES - 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls
BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A TV DRAMA SERIES - 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls - Rochelle Selling
BEST MAKE-UP & HAIR STYLIST OF A TV DRAMA SERIES - 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls - Minuche Snyman
ZANZIBAR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Inside Story - Winner of Best African Film Award
LOS ANGELES PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL
Inside Story- Special Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
BEST TV DRAMA SERIES 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls - Quizzical Pictures
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
BEST DIRECTOR OF A TV DRAMA SERIES - 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls - Amanda Lane
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA SERIES - 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls - Pallance Dladla
BEST ACTRESS IN A TV DRAMA SERIES - 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls - Tiffany Jones-Barbuzano
BEST WRITING TEAM OF A TV DRAMA SERIES - 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls - Minky Schelsinger, Rosalind Butler, Gillian Breslin and Busisiwe Ntulini
BEST DOP / CINEMATOGRAPHER OF A TV DRAMA SERIES - Intersexions (EP8) Trevor Calverley
BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A TV DRAMA SERIES - 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls - Rochelle Selling
BEST MAKE-UP & HAIR STYLIST OF A TV DRAMA SERIES - 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls - Minuche Snyman
BEST ENSEMBLE IN A TV SOAP - Rhythm City
71ST ANNUAL PEABODY AWARD WINNER
Intersexions- Quizzical Pictures (Curious Pictures) and Ants Multimedia
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA) BEST TV DRAMA SERIES- Intersexions Quizzical Pictures (Curious Pictures) and Ants Multimedia
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA) BEST DIRECTOR OF A TV DRAMA SERIES - Intersexions - (EP 4 & 20) Rolie Nikiwe
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA) BEST ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA SERIES - Intersexions Siyabonga Radebe as "Muzi"
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA) BEST ACTRESS IN A TV DRAMA SERIES - Intersexions Lungelo Dladla as "Buhle"
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA) BEST WRITING TEAM OF A TV DRAMA SERIES -Intersexions (EP20) Brent Quinn Linda Bere and Team
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA) BEST DOP / CINEMATOGRAPHER OF A TV DRAMA SERIES -Intersexions (EP8) Trevor Calverley
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA) BEST EDITOR OF A TV DRAMA SERIES - Intersexions (EP20) Melanie Golden
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA) BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN OF A TV DRAMA SERIES - Intersexions- Marna Heunis
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA) BEST MUSIC COMPOSITION OF A TV DRAMA SERIES -Intersexions- Sue Lubner
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA) BEST MAKE-UP & HAIR STYLIST OF A TV DRAMA SERIES - Intersexions- Smartie Olifant
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA) BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A TV DRAMA SERIES - Intersexions (EP4) Janno Muller, Tim Pringle
ROSE D'OR GLOBAL TELEVISION FESTIVAL
Hopeville for Best Drama / MiniSeries
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
The LAB for Best Ensemble Cast and Best Actor in a Drama Fana Mokoena.
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
Hopeville Feature Film for Best Production Design and Best Actor Themba Ndaba
INTERNATIONAL EMMY NOMINATION
Hopeville for Best Mini-Series
FESPACO
Hopeville for Best TV and Fiction prize
African Movie Academy Awards
Hopeville: Nine Nominations- Best Actor Themba Ndaba
SILVER APEX AWARD
Castle Lite CrossRds Campaign
INTERNATIONAL MONTE CARLO TELEVISION FESTIVAL-
Nominations: Hopeville for Best Drama / MiniSeries & Best Actor for Themba Ndaba
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
FONT for Best Ensemble in a Comedy
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
Shosholoza for Best Sports Programme & Best Editor in a Sports Programme
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
Cross Roads for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama- Nick Borianne
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
Rhythm City for Best Supporting Actor in a Soapie- Mduduzi Mabaso
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
Rhythm City for Best Actor in a Soapie- Jamie Bartlett
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
Rhythm City for Best Writing Team for a Soapie
SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTA)
Rhythm City for Best Art Direction for a Soapie
QUIZZICAL PICTURES
Physical Address: 3rd Floor / 139 Greenway/ Greenside / Johannesburg / 2034
Telephone: +27 11 726 2828
Email: quizzical@quizzical.co.za
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