Stephen ‘Spling’ Aspeling
Film Critic | Script Consultant | Radio Presenter
Stephen Aspeling or Spling as he has come to be known, has been reviewing film since 2007. His film criticism grew organically, moving from writing for online publications, magazines, newspapers, channels and streaming services to broadcasting on radio stations with numerous TV appearances. A judge for film schools, juror for film festivals, member of FIPRESCI and a regular host of cinema events, Spling has become a resident film critic for a variety of media outlets and an independent authority on film.
Known for his erudite, insightful and incisive reviews, many filmmakers have come to rely on and trust his opinion. This has led him to advise on numerous films from first draft to first edit, offering valuable feedback that has improved films and screenplays from concept to final cut. Now a screenwriter in his own rite, Spling’s written several feature film scripts, two series pilots, several short films, two radio plays and placed second in SAfm’s national radio playwriting competition in 2025.
Spling broadcast over 650 episodes of Talking Movies over 12 years for his weekly radio programme on Fine Music Radio and written The Essence of Dreams: An Anthology of Film Reviews. You can catch podcasts of the show and read his latest film reviews on splingmovies.com.
Matthew Kalil
Author | Screenwriting Coach | Assoc. Professor
Matthew Kalil’s work is marked by a deep understanding and inspired use of narrative, collaboration and subtext to distill sensitive performances and create meaningful cinema.
The author of The Three Wells of Screenwriting has an MA in Screenwriting from the NSFTV in the UK and over 20 years of experience in directing, editing and writing.
His projects and collaborations have been seen in Canada, Denmark, Morocco, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Kenya, Thailand, the United States, United Kingdom, to name a few, and throughout South Africa.
He has taught at various institutions over the last 20 years ranging from New York University, University Of Cape Town, Act Cape Town, The David Lynch Film School and many others.
Angelique Pretorius
Actress | Producer | Screenwriter
London-born, South African actress Angelique Pretorius started her acting journey with classical theatre training but shifted her focus from stage to screen to become a producer and prominent actress in TV and film.
While renowned in South Africa, Pretorius is now becoming internationally recognised through her performance opposite Jennifer Hudson in the biopic Winnie Mandela; with recurring roles in Starz series Black Sails and HBO series Strike Back respectively and her role opposite Sir Derek Jacobi in the acclaimed Canadian TV movie Diamonds.
Angelique wrote, produced and starred in the award-winning mystery crime thriller Mind Thief and is attached to some exciting forthcoming film projects.