The Producer’s Role with Carolyn Carew

Explore the critical role of producers in bringing feature films and TV dramas to life – from raising finance and navigating sales and distribution, to collaborating with international co-producers under South Africa’s treaty agreements. This session unpacks the strategic, creative, and logistical responsibilities that shape global storytelling.

Webinar details

Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025
Time: 10:00 – 12:00 SAST

Location: Online (Zoom link sent by 12pm, 30 May 2025 – Please add communications@writersguildsa.org to your contact list)

NB: Registration is essential. WGSA members may attend free of charge. We also invite members of our sister organisations Safrea and DFA to attend free of charge. Non-members pay R 75.00.

Meet your Speaker

Carolyn is one of South Africa’s most accomplished and award-winning Producers in television dramas, feature films, documentaries, social marketing campaigns, and commercials. Her company, Free Women Films, has independently produced five feature films (2 x co-productions) & five feature documentaries (2 x co-productions), many hours of long-running high-end drama series, 100s of commercials, eight long-running youth social reality shows (Pan-African), and film training programs. 

Music is My Life – Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo is SA’s official selection to the 96th Academy Awards (Best International Film and Best Documentary Film). FWF’s productions have screened on Amazon Prime, Netflix, BBC, SKY ARTS, Canal+, ZDF /ART, NHK, DK, YLE, SABC, Mnet, eVOD / e.TV and on 150 African Broadcasters. 

Two of her films she produced screened at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival in 2017 & 2018, Berlin Film Festival 2024, and screened at over 20 international and local festivals, winning awards at the SAFTAS and other Festivals; her documentary won the Special Jury Prize at IDFA in 2013. FWF has co-produced with France, Germany, the UK, and Canada. 

Carolyn was profiled in Forbes Africa, 2nd Edition, 2012, for her formidable work and served for three years on the International Emmy Judging documentary panel. Carolyn has played a pivotal role in training SA Film/TV practitioners since 1992 and served as an inaugural councilor at the National Film and Video Foundation from 1999-2001. She has a B Soc. Sc and Post Graduate Dip in Human Resources Management from UCT, 10 000 Business Women Goldman Sachs / Gibs Certificate. She is a member of the Producer Guild of America, IPO and a board member of DFA.