about

Petrus is a South African filmmaker who co-founded Vanishing Elephant, driven by a desire to tell meaningful stories.His films have screened at Locarno, SXSW, New Directors New Films, and New York Film Festival, being distributed to spaces such as Mubi, Topic, and Canal + Poland.He has worked between South Africa, Tanzania and the USA - producing independent work as well as an episode for Netflix’s African Folktales Reimagined Anthology series. He has been part of productions selected for Sundance, IFFR, Oberhausen, and Durban and work supported by the SFFILM, the Atlas Workshops and the Red Sea Souk. He was selected to take part in the 4th edition of “DEENTAL at CANNES” and was a Film Independent Producing Lab fellow in 2024. He is currently in development on multiple feature film projects from China, Ecuador, South Africa and Tanzania.me@petrusvanstaden.com

released

Shorts

Katope (2023)

Tanzania & South Africa
Produder, Editor

dir. Walt Mzengi-Corey
wrts. Walt Mzengi-Corey & Rebecca Mzengi-Corey
prod. Petrus van Staden & Hatibu MaduduA young child with magical origins sets out on a journey to help end the drought that is devastating the community.Clertmont-Ferrand
Zanzibar International Film Festivalproduced as part of Netflix's African Folktales Re-Imagined anthology series

Prayers for Sweet Waters (2021)

South Africa & UK
Editor

dir. Eli Ndoumbe
prod. Eli Ndoumbe & Naeem DxviesA submergence into the vivid realities of three Transgender sex workers living in Cape Town, South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic.Sundance Film Festival
Seattle International Film Festival
Durban Film Festival

Let's Do This Again Sometime (2021)

South Africa
Writer, Director

dir. Petrus van Staden
wrt. Petrus van Staden
prod. Hannah Inacio & Suné BurgerA man’s search for connection is thrown off course during an uncomfortable encounter with an old flame.Festival du Cinema Nouveau
Cork International Film Festival

The Town (2021)

South Africa
Editor

dir. Lindiwe Makgalamele
wrt. Lindiwe Makgalamele
prod. Nolitha MkulisiA car breaks down in an anonymous South African town where a young girl has been waiting for something to happen.Oberhausen Film Festival
Encounters Short Film Festival

Heaven Reaches Down to Earth (2020)

South Africa
Producer, Editor

dir. Tebogo Malebogo
story. Tebogo Malebogo & Petrus van Staden
prod. Petrus van StadenTau, a Mountain. Tumelo, a Fire. They approach each other."Beautiful and poetic, it's a wonderfully crafted tale, set in a glorious landscape against images of fire, friendship, and desire. The inner thoughts flow like water and sting like igniting sparks".- Shelagh Rowan-Legg - Screen AnarchyNew Directors New Films
Clermont-Ferrand
BlackStar

Mthunzi (2019)

South Africa
Producer, Editor

dir. Tebogo Malebogo
wrt. Tebogo Malebogo
prod. Petrus van StadenMthunzi gets distracted on his way back from the store.“Centered on a chance encounter, MTHUNZI gives an intimate and powerful glance into the intricacies of unconscious bias. Beautifully captured, grounded performances and daring choices on behalf of the filmmaker left the jury stirred by this gentle narrative.”- Jury Statement, Special Jury Award (Live Action) at the 33rd AFI FestLocarno Film Festival
SXSW
New York Film Festival
AFI Fest - Special Jury Selection
JCC - Bronze Tanit

Coming Soon

Shorts

We Become a Field of Flowers (TBC)

USA
Producer

dir. Tebogo Malebogo
wrt. Tebogo Malebogo
prod. Mariano Dongo, Petrus van Staden, Emma Doxiadi, Tebogo Malebogo, James GrachosAfter breaking an unknown artifact, an archeology student comes to terms with the stories we will never know.

Leo Las Olas (TBC)

USA
Producer

dir. Emilio Subía
wrt. Emilio Subía
prod. Petrus van Staden & Kirk MorrisAn Ecuadorian immigrant is introduced to his American soon-to-be stepbrother over a weekend at his beach house, but tensions arise when the family dog gets lost.

Ayşegül On Tuesdays (TBC)

USA & Tûrkiye
Producer

dir. Amy Omar
wrt. Amy Omar
prod. Petrus van Staden, Adam Kinyon-Parker, Karine Benzaria, Balahan GûewlDeceived by the promise of happiness and fulfillment in America, a Turkish immigrant housewife engages in a one-sided telephone conversation with a mysterious Turkish man, as she attempts to rediscover her identity.

I Turn Grills On (TBC)

USA
Producer, Editor

dir. Lizzy DeVita
wrt. Lizzy DeVita & Sarah Greenbaum
prod. Petrus van Staden & Hannah Kettering68-year-old Ruth struggles after her husband's death, until a chance encounter changes everything.

Midnight Ink (TBC)

USA
Editor

dir. John Chiodi
wrt. John ChiodiA brash young boy and his shy friend embark on a moonlit journey to get a tattoo.

Burn (TBC)

USA
Editor

dir. José Manuel Vélez
wrt. José Manuel VélezAlex, the cleaner at a sex club, is numb to all the sex around him, yet he craves to feel but a fraction of that pleasure. Desperate, he tries to satiate his desires, even if it’s through pain.

Baba in Graceland (TBC)

USA
Editor

dir. Marc Atkinson Borrull
wrt. Melis Aker
prod. Amy Omar & Adam Kinyon-ParkerAfter the loss of her mother, Naz embarks on a road-trip across America with her alcoholic father to fulfill her parents' long-lost dream: to have her dad join the Ultimate Elvis Contest.

in development

Features

Waking Up in a Dream (TBC)

USADocumentary-Hybrid

dir. Pat Heywood & Jamil McGinnis
prod. Petrus van Staden & Yoko Kohmoto

When The River Splits Open (TBC)

China
Producer

dir. Jess X SnowLabs & Grants
CINE QUA NON Script Revision Lab 2023
Canada Council For The Arts Development Grant 2021

Malvivir (TBC)

Ecuador
Producer

dir. Emilio Subía

The Third Party (TBC)

China
Producer

dir. Stephanie Cheng

Where is the Healer (TBC)

South Africa
Producer

dir. Tebogo MalebogoLabs & Grants
Red Sea Souk 2022
SFFILM Rainin Screenwriting Grant 2022

Nonna (TBC)

South Africa
Writer, Producer

dir. TBCLabs & Grants
Atlas Development Workshops 2021

White Mountain (TBC)

South Africa
Producer

dir. Tebogo Malebogo

Blanket People (TBC)

South Africa
Producer

dir. Tebogo Malebogo

Thekwane (TBC)

South Africa
Producer

dir. Tebogo Malebogo