Tendayi Nyeke wrote, directed, and produced "Loved Out"
Bypassing streaming giants, Nyeke launches innovative sponsorship model to bring audiences back to cinemas across Southern Africa
By Simon Manda
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – In an industry increasingly dominated by streaming platforms, Children’s Emmy-nominated and Annie Award-winning filmmaker Tendayi Nyeke is staging a bold rebellion. Her vibrant new feature film Loved Out is taking an unconventional route to audiences—one that puts community at the heart of the cinematic experience.
Rather than rushing to secure a streaming deal, Nyeke is deliberately reclaiming the theatrical space, inviting communities across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia to sponsor cinema viewings and ensure that the magic of collective storytelling isn’t lost to algorithms and isolated viewing. The film was released in South African cinemas on 26 September 2025, with screenings across NuMetro, Ster-Kinekor, and CineCentre theatres, and will be followed by its Zimbabwe and Zambia premiere on 28 November 2025.
“Community makes this happen, and you are that community,” Nyeke emphasised at the film’s Sandton premiere on 18 September. Her sentiment echoes throughout the entire Loved Out campaign—this isn’t merely a film release; it’s a movement to prove that African stories, told with authenticity and heart, deserve the grandeur of the big screen.
A Journey Forged Through Resilience
Born in Zimbabwe and having lived and worked across Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, Nyeke’s 18-year journey through the entertainment industry reads like a masterclass in perseverance and evolution. From her early days as a 24-year-old entertainment producer to her current role as a creative powerhouse based in Burbank, California, Nyeke has consistently championed diverse storytelling.
Her producing work has garnered multiple South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) nominations across various genres. As a former Writer’s Guild of South Africa council member, she’s written, produced, and directed television programmes across South Africa’s major broadcasters. She served as executive producer on the groundbreaking Disney+ original series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire—a pan-African animated sci-fi anthology that earned her a Children’s Emmy nomination and an Annie Award for Best Limited Series in 2024.
Passionate about where art and business intersect, Nyeke holds an MBA in Music and Creative Industries from Henley Business School, which she completed with distinction. Yet for all her international accolades and Hollywood connections, Nyeke’s heart remains firmly rooted in African storytelling.
“I started this story over a decade ago after leaving Zimbabwe,” Nyeke reveals. “I saw dreams shatter under pressure. Loved Out is for anyone who has ever questioned if they matter, anyone who has hustled whilst pretending to have it all together.”
The Story That Demanded to Be Told
Loved Out is a fearlessly funny dramedy that tackles the exhausting performance of having it all together when everything’s actually falling apart. The film follows Ruva (played by rising star Bahumi Mhlongo, daughter of celebrity choreographer Somizi Mhlongo), a 27-year-old restaurateur whose life reads like a cautionary tale about living for social media validation.
Running the family restaurant “RU AND GLO’S” with her scandalous mother Gloria (portrayed by veteran actress 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 dodgy pastor (Marcus Mabusela) over alleged church money theft.
The stellar ensemble cast includes South African comedy legend Tumi Morake as the truth-telling matriarch Mai D, Afro-pop sensation Ayakha Ntunja as the dreamy princess Vazu, and Eliazer Shadung as Ruva’s glamorous confidant Nangi. Behind the camera, cinematographer Gaopie Kabe, fresh from Mbokodo Award recognition, captures a Johannesburg that pulses with contemporary energy, whilst the musical landscape features a track from Grammy-winning composer Brian Soko (the genius behind Beyoncé’s “Drunk in Love”).
“‘Loved Out‘ explores the idea that love for others, for our passions and places, isn’t enough to make us whole unless we nurture self-love,” Nyeke explains. “It’s about finding joy and humour even in tough times, echoing the resilience many Africans possess.”
The Revolutionary Sponsorship Model
Here’s where Nyeke’s vision becomes truly transformative. Instead of simply releasing the film and hoping audiences turn up, she’s created a sponsorship platform that allows individuals, organisations, and businesses to actively participate in bringing communities to the cinema.
Through the website www.tenye-creates.com, supporters can:
- Sponsor a Student – Enable young people who might otherwise miss out to experience the film in cinemas
- Choose Your Cinema – Select specific theatres across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia to support
- Host Community Screenings – Organise group viewings that transform cinema-going into collective experiences
- Support the Movement – Contribute to ensuring African stories remain accessible on the big screen
“We made this with limited resources, but we never gave up on our passions,” Nyeke shared with the premiere audience. “If we don’t give up, it can open amazing doors. And we can’t do any of this without collaboration.”
The model directly challenges the streaming-first approach that has seen cinemas struggle post-pandemic. It recognises that whilst digital platforms offer convenience, they cannot replicate the communal joy of watching a story unfold together in a darkened theatre—the collective gasps, the shared laughter, the conversations that spill out into car parks and continue over dinner.
Join the Movement
Loved Out isn’t just asking you to watch a film; it’s inviting you to be part of reshaping how African stories reach audiences. Whether you’re an individual who can sponsor one student’s ticket, a business that could fund an entire screening for your staff, or a community organisation wanting to bring your members together, there’s a role for you in this story.
Visit www.tenye-creates.com today to:
- Purchase tickets and choose your preferred cinema
- Sponsor students and community members to attend screenings
- Learn more about hosting private screenings for your organisation
- Follow @LovedOutAF on TikTok and Instagram for updates and behind-the-scenes content
The future of African cinema isn’t written by streaming algorithms—it’s written by us, together, in darkened theatres where our collective laughter and tears remind us of our shared humanity.
SCREENING DETAILS South Africa: 26 September 2025 (NuMetro, Ster-Kinekor, CineCentre) Zimbabwe & Zambia: 28 November 2025
CONTACT For media enquiries, screening partnerships, or sponsorship opportunities: Website: www.tenye-creates.com Social Media: @LovedOutAF (TikTok & Instagram)
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