Pola Maneli, an internationally acclaimed South African filmmaker, illustrator, and contemporary artist originally from Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, is recognised for his distinctive Afrocentric compositions and profound social commentary.
As a Nelson Mandela University (NMU) alumnus, Maneli has garnered significant attention for his exceptional contributions to cinema, currently competing for an Oscar.
The South African illustrator has achieved considerable prominence on the global stage following the selection of his animated short film, Apart, by the Hollywood Reporter as a leading contender for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
Apart, a narrative depicting the experiences of two adolescent protagonists, Themba and Joel, navigating the racial divisions of apartheid-era South Africa, made its debut at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York during June. Subsequently, in July, the film secured the prestigious Best in Show award at the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Film Festival in Los Angeles, thereby establishing its eligibility as an Academy Award candidate.
Apart was developed through a partnership with acclaimed American filmmaker Spike Lee and fellow NMU alumnus Maneli. This compelling 17-minute film examines the bonds of friendship transcending racial boundaries during the apartheid era, receiving widespread critical recognition. The production team includes American screenwriter Jeff Leisawitz and two executive creative directors: Lubabalo Mtati, based in Cape Town, and Tim Jones, based in London, who is also an NMU alumnus, having completed a BTech in Design and Applied Arts in 2010.
Another NMU alumnus involved with Apart is Laduma Ngxokolo, an acclaimed South African fashion designer and entrepreneur celebrated as the founder and creative force behind the luxury knitwear brand MaXhosa Africa. Ngxokolo earned a BTech in Textile Design and Technology in 2010 and serves as the film’s wardrobe designer for Apart. This South African excellence is further enhanced by South African DJ, record producer, and songwriter Black Coffee, who functions as the movie’s musical supervisor.
According to a recent statement from NMU’s media team, Maneli is well acquainted with Spike Lee, who purchased the original artwork of an illustration Maneli created for New Yorker magazine’s commemorative Martin Luther King cover in 2023.
However, this was not how Maneli first became involved with Apart. Jones was the individual who “reached out to me to design the poster for this film that he had written,” Maneli told NMU.
Following this initial collaboration, Maneli advanced to the role of director.
“The movie has gone through a lot of different iterations,” he said. First planned as live action, it became animation, “and then because I had an extensive career in illustration, they asked me to design characters and work on the style of the animation itself. I took ownership of the visual direction of the film,” says Maneli.
The production company was in talks with Lee to direct, but there was a scheduling clash with his crime thriller, Highest 2 Lowest, starring Denzel Washington.
“Spike seemed keen for me to step up and put my fingerprint on it, and with my background of being a South African and in the visual arts, there was a lot of trust there, and so they asked me to direct it,” he said.
