Uga Carlini is a South African and Italian film director, writer, actor and producer, based in Canada. She is known for the documentaries Alison and Beyond the Light Barrier and the feature film Angeliena.
Life and career Carlini was born in Pretoria, Gauteng and graduated from Stellenbosch University. In 2010, She founded Towerkop Creations, a production company centered on stories featuring female protagonists. Since 2025, Towerkop Creations has operated a branch in Vancouver, Canada, expanding its presence beyond South Africa. Her debut documentary short film, Good Planets Are Hard to Find, was about Elizabeth Klarer. In 2016, she directed the feature documentary, Alison, based on the Marianne Thamm book, I Have Life. It premiered at the Dances with Films Festival. She has also directed the music videos 17 shots, Die Deur, Wildste Oomblik and Beauty of Africa for the Sony Music Africa.
Carlini's debut feature film, Angeliena, about a formerly homeless parking attendant, was released worldwide Netflix on October 8, 2021. She directed Beyond the Light Barrier (2023), a hybrid documentary about Elizabeth Klarer, a South African meteorologist. In 2006, she wrote a syllabus in acting, filmmaking, and screenwriting for the Fiji National University (FNU). In 2024, she returned to FNU to host a film masterclass. She is a member of the Producers Guild of America, and the Directors Guild of Canada.
Personal life Carlini has two sons, Roka and Neo, both made their acting debuts together in the feature film, Angeliena.
Filmography Year Title Director Writer Producer Note 2010 Sewe Sakke Sout TV series 2011 Good Planets Are Hard to Find Documentary2016 Alison Documentary The Butterfly Revolution Commercial video 2017 Die Bergs TV series2019 17 Shots Music video Die Deur Short film Far from home Documentary Day Zero Documentary2020 Home #homehuman2020 Short film Wildste Oomblik Music video2021 Beauty of Africa Short film Angeliena Feature film2023Beyond the Light Barrier Documentary
Awards and nominations YearResultAwardCategoryWorkRef.2016 WonAsia-Pacific Film FestivalBest Documentary FilmAlison NominatedSilwerskerm Film FestivalBest documentary Feature WonWriters Guild of South Africa Best documentary script2017 WonAfrica Magic Viewers' Choice AwardsBest Documentary Feature NominatedSouth African Film and Television AwardsBest Documentary Feature NominatedBest Achievement in Directing2019 NominatedNew Media Film FestivalFestival Award17 Shots2022NominatedAfrica Movie Academy AwardsBest directorAngeliena2022NominatedAfrica Movie Academy AwardsFirst feature by a directorAngeliena2022NominatedAfrica Movie Academy AwardsBest filmAngeliena2022WonSAFTA AwardsBest supporting actor in a feature film: Tshamano SebeAngeliena2022NominatedSAFTA AwardsBest achievement in original music/score - feature film: Charl-Johan LingenfelderAngeliena2023WonWriters Guild of South AfricaBest produced documentary feature film screenplayBeyond the light barrierWonFemale Eye Film FestivalBest Foreign DocumentaryNominatedEncounters Festival South AfricaBest Documentary Film by an African WomanNominatedBest South-African Film2024NominatedSouth African Film and Television AwardsBest Documentary Feature
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