“Generation Soweto” is a documentary film about millennials in South Africa. It explores youth culture through the eyes of four 18-30 year olds in both Cape Town and Johannesburg, the suburbs of Sandton to the streets of Soweto.

“Generation Soweto” is not a retrospective. It’s a look at current political and social climate, 20 years after the ending of Apartheid in South Africa. We explore the job market, entrepreneurship, rising costs of living, technology in a developing country and what gentrification means to young South Africans. Today’s South African youth, face the first time in the history of the country where social equality seems almost within reach. Through the eyes of our cast we will also explore the way in which the current political climate is influencing their dreams and goals; Afrophobia, Xenophobia, the Soweto Protests against the Power Company, and other aspects of daily life in South Africa.

“Generation Soweto” was born from the travels of Nisa Ahmad, Executive Producer and Director. In her recent travels to South Africa, Nisa was struck by the electricity felt on the streets of Johannesburg and the hearts of the young people she came into contact with. It was a palatable energy that, although similar to the United States was invariably different.

Nisa came home, excited about what she’d seen and immediately booked a return trip to spend more time and learn more about what was happening in the in inner city of Johannesburg and with millennials who were carving their futures there. Not totally sure of the direction of the project, or what it would be, she approached long time friend and Director of Photography, Ben Chaves. She asked Ben if she could borrow one of his cameras to go back and capture some of this energy she’d experienced. Ben was so inspired by Nisa's passion that he decided to book a ticket of his own accompany Nisa to experience for himself what was happening there.

Together they embarked on a two week journey to Cape Town and South Africa, and “Generation Soweto” was born. Ben brings fifteen years of experience, and has worked around the Globe shooting many Docu-Series, such as “XO Betsy Johnson”, “Flipping Out” and more. He and Nisa met when they both worked in entertainment news, on a Carsey-Warner/Dick Clark Production.