T'sepiso Mahase

Ts’episo Mahase is a director and producer from Maseru, Lesotho, who likes to experiment with short film. Mahase is a budding producer with a sincere determination to tell truly authentic African narratives. 

Mahase’s short film, Grape Fruit, is one such African marvel that explores an indigenous cannibalistic practice among the Basotho people.  The film received stellar reviews for its articulation of the complexities of love and of life as they are haunted by death. Grape Fruit reveals Mahase’s interesting technique of playing with hard and soft elements, in narrative and in visual production. The hard story of cannibalism in Grape fruit is confronted by a soft romantic love story which gives the narrative its emergence.

Mahase is no stranger to telling complexities and playing with hards and softs. In her three part film  ‘ClAIRVOYANCE:the end’ Mahase, again, explores contrasts as she plays with the thematics of life and death in narrative, and the confrontation of dark by light elements visually.  

Mahase’s style guarantees a gripping journey in the exploration of her films. The young producer is not afraid of experimenting with things we are taught, conventionally, to not belong together, or things that are opposing of each other. Ts’episo Mahase pushes the boundaries as she continues to unearth stories, styles and elements the World has not yet seen. She believes that the World is far and wide, giving us the unique advantage of not viewing it with the same lenses, and thus a great opportunity to tell even more stories -  unique and authentic stories. 

As a young black and female filmmaker working particularly in a field dominated by males, Mahase is well positioned to bring forth a new and diverse perspective. Mahase so advises the young creator like herself to “be bold to write [their script]”