TEAM
THIERRY CASSUTO
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Thierry Cassuto is an award-winning TV and film producer with over 30 years of experience, spanning network executive roles, writing, and independent production. In France, he founded popular culture channel Paris Première and was instrumental in launching national network M6, shaping some of its most iconic original shows. He later served as President of Hanna-Barbera France before launching indie production company TVTV, supplying original scripted and unscripted programming to all major French networks.
Since moving to South Africa and founding Both Worlds in 1998, Thierry has produced hundreds of hours of original content, including the twice International Emmy-nominated and multiple SAFTA-winning ZANews: Puppet Nation, hit panel shows Point of Order and Parlement Parlement, and the PAFF-winning documentary Africa & I. More recently, he co-created and produced Recipes for Love and Murder, starring Maria Doyle Kennedy (MultiChoice, AMC Networks, AcornTV, Telepool), now in its second season, as well as The Morning After, starring Amara Okereke, in association with Amazon Prime Video and ARD, and distributed by Federation.
Thierry holds an MA in Comparative Literature from the Sorbonne and an MSc in Broadcasting from Boston University. He’s a founding member of South Africa’s Independent Producers Organisation, a consultant for think tank Futureworld, and sits on the International Emmy Awards Committee
KAREN JEYNES
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Karen Jeynes joined Both Worlds in 2014, bringing with her a rich background as a writer and director for both stage and screen. Her award-winning plays—like Everybody Else (is Fcking Perfect)*, Kiss Kiss, I’ll Have What She’s Having, and Laying Blame—have earned critical acclaim, while Vaslav was nominated for three Fleur du Cap Awards. On television, she’s made her mark as head writer for the long-running SABC drama 90 Plein Street and has written for Thabang Thabong, Vaya Mzansi, Moferefere Lenyalong, and multiple Mzansi Magic films.
At Both Worlds, Karen has played a key role in developing and overseeing productions alongside creative partner Thierry Cassuto. She co-wrote and co-directed scripted series like The Morning After and Recipes for Love and Murder, now in its second season. She also served as co-executive producer and head writer for the twice International Emmy-nominated ZANews: Puppet Nation, as well as comedy formats Point of Order, Comedy Central News, Parlement Parlement, and the award-winning documentary Africa and I.
Beyond her work in film and TV, Karen is deeply committed to industry inclusivity. She co-founded DAWN (Disabled Audiovisual Workers Network) and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Pretoria, focusing on autistic representation in South African television.
THATO CASSUTO
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Thato is the driving force behind how our films and TV projects connect with stakeholders and audiences. Drawing from over 11 years of executive experience in advertising and marketing—managing key accounts like Standard Bank, Liberty, MTN, and South African Tourism—Thato has handled everything from retail campaigns to brand positioning.
Serving as an Executive Producer on shows such as The Morning After and Recipes for Love and Murder, she ensures our stories get made—but just as importantly get seen. With a sharp eye on trends, audience insights, and digital innovation, Thato blends creativity with strategy to keep Both Worlds’ content resonating worldwide.
She holds a BA in Marketing Communication from the University of Johannesburg, along with certificates from Wits Business School (Bankseta: Future-Fit Senior Banker Development) and the Institute of Directors South Africa (Toastmaster Speechcraft).
FLAVIA MOTSISI
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Flavia Motsisi joined Both Worlds in 2025 as Development Executive and Creative Producer, bringing with her over a decade of experience shaping award-winning African television and film. An International Emmy nominee recognized by Forbes Africa for her contribution to scripted content, she has earned a reputation as a creative force behind some of South Africa’s most ambitious and successful televisions productions.
Formerly Senior Manager for Scripted Series at MultiChoice and Showmax, Flavia oversaw commissioning teams and spearheaded over 45 high-impact projects including Shaka iLembe, Queen Modjadji and SAFTA-winning productions such as Outlaws, Gomora, Adulting, The Wife and the Emmy-nominated The River to name a few. Her leadership and story instincts have helped transform Africa’s television landscape and set new benchmarks for quality and reach.
Beyond her production achievements, Flavia is a co-founder and former board member of Sisters Working in Film and Television (SWIFT) South Africa’s official women-in-film organisation. While heading up the Skills and Mentorship pillar she served as Executive Producer for SWIFT’s landmark #ThatsNotOk anti-sexual harassment campaign. This initiative and its standard practices remain a cornerstone for equipping South African productions with clear on-set etiquette and a code of conduct that safeguards everyone on set.
At Both Worlds, Flavia channels her African market expertise and deep story sensibility into steering the team toward bold, authentic and globally resonant African narratives. As a Development Executive she identifies and nurtures ideas with breakthrough potential, shapes them into compelling formats across genres and platforms, and guides creatives to unlock the “X factor” that makes stories unforgettable.
TINA KRUGER
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Tina Kruger joined Both Worlds as Associate Producer, bringing a rare combination of commissioning expertise, creative vision, and hands-on production experience to the development and execution of premium scripted content. A writer, showrunner, and producer with a BA in Audiovisual Production Management, Psychology Honours, and advanced qualifications in Management Practice and Business Administration, she balances creative instinct with strategic rigor—precisely the skill set needed to shepherd ambitious projects from concept to screen.
From 2017 to 2022, Tina served as Senior Commissioning Editor for MultiChoice Premium Channels and Showmax, where she oversaw the development, production, and distribution of some of South Africa's most ambitious local drama—including international co-productions like Spinners, acclaimed features Poppie Nongena and Toorbos, and hit series Die Byl, Alles Malan, and Troukoors. As a writer, her credits span drama series such as Een keer om die Son, Sterlopers, and Spooksoeker, along with features Leading Lady, Vir die Voëls, and Jou Romeo. She's also executive produced Juffrou X and Appels en Tee (serving as head writer), and produced the Silwerskermfees-nominated short Beurtkrag.
Beyond production, Tina is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of storytellers. Since 2023, she's served as Programme Manager for the kykNET Silwerskermfees and annually presents a screenwriting residency at the Jakes Gerwel Foundation. She's also served on the SAFTAS jury, bringing her commissioning and creative expertise to championing authentic South African stories that resonate both locally and internationally.
ANNEMARIE DU PLESSIS
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Annemarie brings a wealth of experience in production and a deep understanding of local talent and industry stakeholders. She plays a crucial role in ensuring that our productions are executed at the highest level of excellence—no matter the budget. From pre-production to final delivery, she expertly balances creative ambition with logistical precision, ensuring every project runs smoothly and reaches its full potential.
With a diverse background spanning web series, reality shows, animation, and action-packed shorts, Annemarie has built a reputation for delivering high-quality productions across formats. Her impressive career includes winning a SAFTA (South African Film and Television Award) for Best Lifestyle Series for Die Broer Toer S1 and producing the internationally acclaimed web series Start it Up. More recently, she worked on the hit reality series Die Real Housewives van die Wynlande and the Showmax Original Koek. Her projects Die Swart Draak Ontwaak and As, which premiered at the 11th annual Silwerskerm Festival, collectively earned 12 nominations and 4 awards.
With her exceptional production expertise, problem-solving mindset, and meticulous attention to detail, Annemarie is instrumental in bringing Both Worlds’ projects to life—on time, on budget, and at the highest standard.
ANATHI RUBELA
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Anathi Rubela joined Both Worlds in 2023. As a Development and Production Coordinator, he plays a key role in shaping new projects and fostering relationships with our local and international partners. With a strong background in writing, story development, and production coordination, he works across multiple projects, ensuring a seamless flow from concept to execution. Whether participating in the development of new projects, supporting production teams, or collaborating with partners, Anathi is instrumental in keeping our creative pipeline dynamic and efficient.
A passionate storyteller, Anathi has co-written and performed in several university productions, including Nguve ya Mbegu, which premiered at the National Arts Festival in 2019 and won a Standard Bank Ovation Award. In 2021, he was selected for the Queer Writers Incubator, hosted by FemmeProjects and Free Film School in Cape Town, where he honed his screenwriting skills under the mentorship of top film and television professionals.
Before joining Both Worlds, Anathi spent ten months at Bomb Productions, developing a new telenovela and scripting multiple episodes. At Both Worlds, he initially contributed as a development assistant, working on the story development and writing for the second season of the internationally acclaimed series Recipes for Love and Murder.
Anathi holds a BA (Hons) in Theatre and Performance, specializing in Acting, bringing a deep understanding of storytelling from both a writer’s and performer’s perspective.
ANATHI NTABENI
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Anathi Ntabeni is our key Production Accountant, ensuring the financial efficiency and smooth execution of our productions. With a strong background in production accounting, she plays a crucial role in managing budgets, tracking expenses, and maintaining financial oversight on key projects, all while navigating the complexities of compliance and reporting to funders and partners—both public and private.
At Both Worlds, she has served as Production Accountant on The Morning After and Recipes for Love and Murder Season 2, bringing precision and expertise to every stage of the production process. Her extensive experience includes working on a range of high-profile film and television projects such as The Watch, Spinners, Our Girl, Lea to the Rescue, and Dias Santana.
Anathi’s meticulous attention to detail and deep understanding of production finance, compliance, and reporting make her an invaluable asset to the team, ensuring that every project is delivered with financial discipline, operational excellence, and full transparency to all stakeholders.
Alisha Sadler-Almeida
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Alisha joined Both Worlds in 2017, bringing a wealth of financial expertise to the team. Since then, she has played a key role in ensuring regulatory compliance, driving growth, and maintaining financial stability across multiple film and television productions. As head of finance, she oversees production accounts and supports the team in navigating the complexities of the ever-changing local and international creative economy.
Before stepping into the world of entertainment, Alisha built an impressive career in the gaming and food industries. She spent over eight years in senior roles at GPI Management Services, a division of Grand Parade Investment Limited (GPI), where she held positions including Grandslots General Manager, Chief Operating Officer: Slots, and Director of Slots Operating Entities. She later transitioned to GPI’s Grand Foods division, where she played a pivotal role in bringing Burger King® to South Africa as Financial Director.
A qualified Chartered Accountant since 2004, Alisha started her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she spent seven years in the Auditing Division, finishing as a Senior Audit Manager.