Originally from South Africa , Blecher 's family moved to New York when she was 12 years old . Her family is originally of Jewish Lithuanian origin , which informs some of her work . After a brief spell at Georgetown University , Blecher lived in Paris for a year and enrolled in film school upon her return to New York . In 1992 , shortly after graduating , she returned to South Africa . She directed the documentaries '' Surfing Soweto '' and '' Kobus And Dumile '' . She was nominated for Best Movie Director at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for her first film Otelo Burning , a story of how 16-year-old Otelo Buthelez learns how to surf amidst apartheid . The film won 17 awards internationally . It is in Zulu with English subtitles and stars Jafta Mamabolo , Thomas Gumede and Tshepang Mohlomi . Following the success of Otelo Burning , Blecher received funding from the National Film and Video Foundation ( NFVF ) for a " slate of films " . Her second film Ayanda premiered October 10 at the 2015 BFI London Film Festival and took international honors at the LA Film Festival in 2015 . Blecher graduated from NYU
2013 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards
2013 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards
Sara Blecher