Erin Macpherson

Available to hire

Erin Macpherson is an award-winning filmmaker currently based in Cape Town, South Africa.

About

Erin Macpherson is an award-winning filmmaker currently based in Cape Town, South Africa. Their work has screened and won awards at numerous festivals internationally, including IDFA, SFFILM, OutFest, DIFF, Les Nuits en Or, and the Emmys.

“The Water Dancers” won a SAFTA (South African Film and Television Award) for its spotlight on the importance of dragonflies in combatting climate disaster. Following their Masters graduation in Documentary Film Directing from the prestigious Doc Nomads, their film “Não é Fado, é Fado Bicha” had its world premiere at DocLisboa and was nominated for Best Portuguese Film for its portrayal of queer liberation through reinventing traditional Fado music. Branching into docu-fiction cinema, “I Did Not Wake Up Dead Today” received numerous awards and festival nominations, such as the Golden Eagle Award and DokuBaku’s Best Documentary Audience Award, for its comedic personification of depression through the puppetry of their childhood teddy bear. They have also worked and collaborated on films, such as “¿Es el Enemigo?” and “Scenes from a Dry City”, which have won numerous awards and critical acclaim.

Alongside their film career, Erin has experience in crafting online video content (including graphics and animation), ranging from trailers, interviews, ads, sizzle reels, promotional marketing videos, educational short courses, and UGC for a variety of organisations and companies.

  • 8 years' experience
  • Joined September 2025

Industry experience

  • Media & Entertainment
  • Education
  • Professional Services
  • Software & Internet
  • Telecommunications
  • Non-Profit Organization

Work experience· 5 roles

Director | Editor | Cinematographer | Colorist · Array Media, Cape Town, SASep 2024 – Present · 2 yrs 3 mos

Spearheaded the full creative direction of film projects from pre- to post-production, shaping narrative structure, shooting style, and audio-visual language to deliver cohesive, high-impact storytelling. Directed large-scale location shoots, including the Comrades Marathon, managing on-site logistics, crew coordination, and cinematic execution. Crafted dynamic videos for high-profile clients, such as ASICS, Spur, Springboks, Marriott, and Zoho, driving engagement while maintaining brand consistency.

Freelance Editor · NBFX: Nu BoyanaJun 2024 – Sep 2024 · 4 mos

Optimised project workflows through maintaining quality control across various film productions, including the award-winning film, ¿Es el enemigo? Accelerated post-production timelines through efficient media management, ensuring all deliverables were completed ahead of schedule. Resolved visual output errors through collaborative VFX post-production efforts, ensuring seamless visual consistency throughout the project.

Freelance Video Editor | Cinematographer | VFX Editor · Facing FactsMay 2023 – May 2024 · 1 yr 1 mo

Enhanced visual storytelling of multimedia content, driving a significant increase in audience engagement across digital platforms. Spearheaded creative development through manipulating plot, score, colour, and animation, drastically improving the quality of educational videos. Aligned production with technical objectives, increasing collaboration with industry experts and boosting sales of online video courses.

Video Editor | DOP | Producer | Colorist · 2U / GetSmarter, Cape Town, SAAug 2018 – Feb 2021 · 2 yrs 7 mos
Freelance Editor | VFX Editor | POC · SaltPeter Productions, Cape Town, SAFeb 2018 – Sep 2025 · 7 yrs 8 mos

Education

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Documentary Film Directing · Doc Nomads Joint Masters (Universidade Lusófona, SZFE, LUCA)2021 – 2023
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Film Theory and Practice · University of Cape Town2017 – 2018
Course/Study at London School of Economics · London School of Economics2019

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