Photos by Jason Boswell, Rijasolo & Shaun Swingler

Jo Munnik

(she/her) is a veteran South African documentary filmmaker whose two-decade career has spanned the breadth of Africa, capturing stories from the southernmost tip at 33 degrees South to the northernmost point at 33 North, with a rich tapestry of narratives from the East to the West in between.

Notable achievements in her career encompass a diverse range of projects, from directing a compelling five-part documentary series that delves into the vibrant youth culture of South Africa, to embarking on an exhilarating journey to Mount Kilimanjaro for a captivating 23-minute documentary. She has ventured into the heart of conservation efforts by embedding with Sea Shepherd in Gabon and followed the rehabilitation and release of endangered pangolins in Liberia. Her work has highlighted pressing social issues like the heroin trade in Kenya, and documenting the profound impact of climate change on the women of Lake Malawi's fishing communities. Additionally, her lens has captured sacred burial traditions in Madagascar, underground plant medicine ceremonies in South Africa and intimate interviews with esteemed African artists and cultural pioneers. 

From thought-provoking long-form documentaries to immersive short-form digital experiences, and captivating visual storytelling, Jo is driven by a passion for crafting authentic and impactful narratives that resonate with global audiences, fostering a deeper connection to Africa and celebrate the beauty, resilience, and diversity of her home continent.

Jo's work has been featured by prestigious local and international platforms including CNN, BBC, Vice News, NBC, Canon, Deutsche Welle News, Love Nature, Sky Nature, UNDP, DSTV, Encounters International Documentary Film Festival, and The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, among numerous others.

Previously, Jo was the Africa features producer for CNN International for five years. In that time, she produced, and wrote over two hundred programmes, from over twenty countries, for CNN’s weekly sponsored content programming and digital platforms. She continues to contribute to CNN International’s Africa programming.

She has covered some of continent’s biggest breaking news events, including the Westgate terrorist attack in Nairobi and Nelson Mandela’s death. She was also head of production for a 24-hour dedicated news channel to coverage of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial.

Jo speaks English, French and Afrikaans. She has a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and English Literature from the University of the Witwatersrand and interned at Refugees International in Washington D.C.  In her spare time she mentors young filmmakers, guest lectures in documentary filmmaking, surfs and fosters rescue dogs.

She is based in Cape Town, South Africa and is available for assignments globally.