The Cape Town-born Oliver Hermanus started his undergraduate degree in Film, Media and Visual Studies at the University of Cape Town and completed it at the University of California after receiving an exchange programme scholarship. Upon returning to South Africa, he worked as a press photographer for a national news agency for 18 months before receiving a private scholarship to attend the London Film School.

His graduation film, Shirley Adams, premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival in 2009, had its North American premier at the Toronto International Film Festival and has subsequently been screened in over a dozen countries. The film has won numerous prizes including the Grand Prix at the Amiens International Film Festival. Oliver is currently working on his second feature film, entitled The Struggle, at the Cannes Film Festival’s Cinefondation in Paris.