Khabonina Qubeka takes on the role of Gloria in the film "Loved Out"
“Loved Out” – A fearlessly funny dramedy starring Khabonina Qubeka and Bahumi Mhlongo set to shake up the local film scene with a premiere on 18 September and a nationwide release on 26 September.
By Simon Manda
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – The red carpet will be rolled out at Sandton City on 18 September 2025 for what promises to be one of the most anticipated film premieres of the year. “Loved Out,” a vibrant, unapologetically South African dramedy, will make its debut before hitting cinemas nationwide on 26 September.
“Loved Out” isn’t just another local film hoping to find its audience—it’s a genre-defying romp that tackles the pressures of modern life with the kind of raw honesty and infectious energy that South African storytelling does best. At its heart lies a story many will recognise: the exhausting performance of having it all together when everything’s actually falling apart.
“Loved Out” follows Ruva, a 27-year-old restaurateur played by rising star Bahumi Mhlongo, whose life reads like a cautionary tale about the perils of living for the ‘gram. Running the family restaurant “RU AND GLO’S” with her scandalous mother, Gloria (Khabonina Qubeka), Ruva projects the confidence of a mogul whilst privately teetering on the edge of financial ruin. When an online competition offering R1 million to the hottest local culinary spot appears, it seems like divine intervention—until Gloria gets kidnapped by a shady pastor over alleged church money theft.
“What started as a personal story about chasing dreams in a new country became something much bigger,” explains writer-director-producer Tendayi Nyeke, whose own journey from Zimbabwe to South Africa over a decade ago informs much of the film’s emotional core. “Every immigrant, every hustler, every person trying to build something whilst battling their own demons will see themselves in this story.”
Nyeke, whose impressive CV includes Emmy nominations and SAFTA wins, brings together a stellar cast that reads like a who’s who of South African talent. Alongside Mhlongo and Qubeka, audiences will be treated to performances from comedy legend Tumi Morake as the truth-telling matriarch Mai D, Ayakha Ntunja as the dreamy Afro-pop princess Vazu, Marcus Mabusela as the decidedly dodgy Pastor Zakes, and Eliazer Shadung as Ruva’s glamorous confidant Nangi.
“Loved Out” production itself reflects the collaborative spirit that makes South African cinema so compelling. Cinematographer Gaopie Kabe, fresh from Mbokodo Award recognition, captures a Johannesburg that pulses with contemporary energy, whilst production designer Martha Sibanyoni—whose 25-year career spans everything from “Yizo Yizo” to “Black Tax”—creates a visual feast that’s unmistakably African yet universally relatable.
Perhaps most exciting is the Loved Out’s musical landscape, crafted by producers Nkosilathi “Niko” Ndlovu and Alessandro Giovanetto, with a featured track from Grammy-winning composer Brian Soko (yes, the genius behind Beyoncé’s “Drunk in Love”). The soundtrack weaves together Afro-pop, trap, amapiano, and gospel into something that’s as stylish and unpredictable as the film itself.
“Loved Out” arrives at a time when South African audiences are hungry for stories that reflect their lived experiences without apologising for their complexity. This isn’t a film that sanitises struggle or romanticises hustle culture – it’s a mirror held up to a generation navigating social media perfectionism, family expectations, and the relentless pressure to appear successful.
The premiere promises to be more than just a film screening. Following the success of August’s immersive pop-up fan experience in Johannesburg—complete with food, fashion, and celebrity appearances—the Sandton City event will celebrate not just a film, but a movement towards more authentic African storytelling.
Beyond the glamour of opening night, “Loved Out” represents something significant for local cinema: proof that South African stories, told with honesty and heart, can captivate audiences without compromising their authenticity. It’s a film that dares to ask uncomfortable questions about what we’re willing to sacrifice for success, wrapped in the kind of laugh-out-loud entertainment that makes medicine go down smoothly.
As Nyeke puts it, “This is for anyone who has ever questioned if they matter, anyone who has hustled whilst pretending to have it all together. It’s about what keeps us going when life gets nuts: love, laughter, and refusing to be edited out.”
SAVE THE DATES
Premiere: 18 September 2025 –
National Cinema Release (SA): 26 September 2025
Zimbabwe Release: 28 November 2025
Socials: @LovedOutAF (TikTok & Instagram)
