The Slate

In Development

New features moving toward production — from pre-production to financing and available screenplays.

Goeiedag vir Boomklim
IN PRE-PRODUCTION · SHOOTING DECEMBER 2026
Feature Film · Family / Coming-of-Age · Afrikaans

Goeiedag vir Boomklim

A Good Day for Climbing Trees

When quiet middle child Marnus is swept up in Leila's protest to save an old tree, he discovers that standing up for something might mean climbing higher than he ever dared. A warm, youth-led environmental story adapted from a much-loved novel published in nine European languages, with four-quadrant appeal for local and European family audiences.

Directed by Corné van Rooyen · Produced by René van Rooyen and Tascha van der Westhuizen

MultiChoice pre-sale · NFVF production funding

Outsider
FULLY DEVELOPED · IN FINANCING
Feature Film · Horror · English

Outsider

A slow-burn South African horror in the tradition of The Witch and The Babadook, in which an unseen monster exposes how fear is weaponised by people and the political systems they build.

Directed by René van Rooyen

South Africa–Canada co-production with 4AM Films · Developed through the Realness African Screenwriters' Residency and Durban Filmmart.

Spartacus
FULLY DEVELOPED · IN FINANCING
Feature Film · Youth Dance Drama · English

Spartacus

On the Cape Flats, a volatile teenage boy discovers ballet and turns it into his weapon against poverty, violence and the masculinity imposed on him. A raw, emotionally charged coming-of-age story about the courage it takes to become yourself.

Directed by René van Rooyen

Shortlisted for the MultiChoice 2026 co-production slate

Rough Rider
MICRO BUDGET · SCREENPLAY AVAILABLE
Feature Film · Coming-of-Age Romance · English / Afrikaans

Rough Rider

Sheltered farm daughter Emma, 19, takes to the road with an older boyfriend her parents would never approve of. A bold, high-stakes road romance about control, freedom and first love, set against the cinematic vastness of the Karoo.

Written by René van Rooyen

The Slate

Television

Wilding Fields
IN DEVELOPMENT
Television Series · Romance · 10 x 28 min · 3 Seasons

Wilding Fields

Inspired by Thomas Hardy's 'Far from the Madding Crowd', set in the wheat fields of the Swartland, South Africa's farming country. When a prodigal daughter returns to her family farm after her father's mysterious disappearance, she must confront her estranged relatives, a buried inheritance battle, and the forbidden love she left behind — all while a sand mine threatens to erase the land that shaped her.

Pilot, season treatment and deck available · Full 3-season plot arc developed

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Build the next story with us.

These features are moving toward production and open to co-producers, financiers, broadcasters and sales partners. If a project here speaks to you, we'd like to hear from you.

RED LETTER DAY

Original African narrative content for film and television.

Connect

rene@redletterdaypictures.com

Jamestown, Stellenbosch 7600

South Africa

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