David R. Walker

Archive for July 27th, 2026

Fosta

Director: Eldon van Aswegen

Cast: Thulani Headman, Valentino Barrioseta, Black Coffee, Richie Hawtin, Ed Sheeran, Skrillex, Themba Fassie, Siphe Fassie

Running Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Languages: English and Xhosa

Country of Origin: South Africa

Festival: Durban International Film Festival

Film Rating: 8 out of 10

Please note this film is a documentary.

South African cinematographer and film maker Eldon van Aswegen makes his feature film directorial debut with his film Fosta which had its world premiere at the 47^th Durban International Film Festival on Friday 24^th July 2026 and is a superb documentary about Cape Town based DJ Thulani “Fosta” Headman, who was a former gang member who effectively turns to electronic dance music as a means of transforming his life.

Expertly directed by Eldon van Aswegen, Fosta is a fascinating and relevant documentary about the successful trajectory of a former ex-convict as it traces his journey from his township roots in Langa, Cape Town to his chance meeting with Barcelona based events promoter Valentino Barrioseta who visits Cape Town to take a break from the hectic dance scene on the Spanish holiday island of Ibiza.

While Barrioseta is in Cape Town he takes a tour to Langa where he meets Thulani and recognizes Thulani’s talent as an electronic music DJ. Before long the Spanish events promoter invites other international DJs including American DJ Skrillex and British Canadian DJ Richie Hawtin to Cape Town to meet Thulani “Fosta” Headman and witness his talent.

After revitalising the dance scene in Langa, Fosta recognizes the possibilities of working with an international promoter but is reluctant to just disappear overseas and not bring anything back to the community.

Fosta as a documentary has high production values and features great interviews with Fosta and the other international DJ’s as the non-fiction film follows him as he travels first to Amsterdam and then London and Glastonbury, whereby Barrioseta introduces him to some influential music festivals and exposes him to the international DJ scene.

Together with some international fundraising, Fosta, Skrillex and Valentino Barrioseta give something back to the community of Langa by building the Bridges for Music academy – https://bridgesformusic.org/ and registering the DJ and Talent music development school in the UK as a charity.

Eldon van Aswegen choses to make a vibrant documentary about Fosta combining elements of taped interviews with touches of bright yellow animation and tells a compelling story about positive transformation and skills development and the potential for the South African electronic dance music scene to shine on the international stage.

Fosta is a fantastic documentary, uplifting and innovative and is highly recommended viewing.

Fosta gets a film rating of 8 out of 10 and will interest 21^st century contemporary DJ and dance music lovers. Worth seeing.