Kevin Harris 
 is a South African who has lived and worked as an independent filmmaker in South Africa for the past twenty-eight years.

 In November 2007, Kevin Harris was awarded the Golden Horn Film & TV Award for Life-time Achievement in Documentary Film-making by the National Film & Video Foundation of South Africa.

His independent career began in October 1979 when he was fired by the Apartheid controlled
SABC TV regime for ensuring the uncensored broadcast of his documentary “BARA”, which went behind the scenes of an overcrowded Baragwanath Hospital and exposed the oppressive social / environmental conditions under which the community of Soweto were forced to live in the township.

“BARA” was awarded the Star Tonight Best Documentary Award for 1979.

 In 1982 he made his first independent documentary, 
“This We Can Do For Justice & For Peace” – which gave expression to the standpoint of the South African Council of Churches in opposing Apartheid in South Africa - through the concerned perspectives of General Secretary Bishop Desmond Tutu & SACC President Peter Story.

Restricted in South Africa, but broadcast in the USA by NBC under the title,  
“Land of Courage, Land of Fear” – the documentary was awarded two Emmy Awards.

Two international co-productions - “Witness to Apartheid” [ Sharon Sopher - 1986 ] &  
“The Cry of Reason”  [ Bob Bilheimer - 1989  ] – both received USA Academy Award nominations.

 In November 1987, appeared as a specialist witness for the defence in the  
"Delmas" Treason Trial.  

 
Conceived & produced the alternative series of documentary reports on South Africa during the "state of emergency" under the Apartheid regime in 1986 & 1987, titled "South Africa Now".
Developed by Danny Schechter & broadcast weekly by Globalvision on PBS, “South Africa Now”, continued to expose the injustice and brutality of Apartheid and successfully challenged the content of sanitized mainstream USA network coverage of the South African situation from 1987 to 1990.  
 
Exposed the brutality of the South African Security Forces military occupation of Namibia, in 1988 with the documentary "Namibia - no easy road to freedom".

Examined the bitter-sweet legacy facing an Independent Namibia in 1990 with
"Namibia - Rebirth of a Nation".  

Served as  Media Representative for the PPHC-AWG Network [ Progressive Primary Health Care Network - AIDS Working Group ] for 1991 & 1992. Developed  & instituted in 1990 the AIDS-awareness research & work-shopping project with the youth of  Sharpeville Township out of which the docu-drama "MARGINS - Youngblood" documentary series was created.

Community film projects include the two dramatized documentaries,
"The Right Time" & "Tomorrow's Parents" – work-shopped with the youth, these films examine many facets of life in the townships including issues such as unwanted teenage pregnancies & the breakdown in "parent-child" communication.

He has also Produced & Directed international co-production ventures with M-NET,
ZDF & ARD1[ Germany ], ABC TV [ Australia ] & PBS [ USA ].

In 1992 was awarded the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Film in S.A.   
 
Since democracy in 1994, Kevin Harris has to date produced & directed some thirty South African feature documentaries on a variety of current social & political issues.   

International co-productions include:
 “Unfinished Business” – investigation into the torture and execution of exiles by ANC Military Tribunal at Quatro Camp [ Awarded a “Special Commendation” by the United Nations Media Peace Awards] ;
“Judgement Day” – documentary feature on the current situation in Israel / Palestine taking as a reference point the struggle for liberation in South Africa.  
[ Best Documentary - Apollo Film Festival ].

 In 2004, Kevin Harris initiated the Documentary Director Mentorship Program in association 
with the National Film & Video Foundation - to promote economic empowerment, sustainability 
and skills development in the South African film and television industry by mentoring young South African documentary producer / directors.

Kevin Harris’ most recent documentary productions include: 
"Desmond & Leah Tutu – A Love Divine” – 2006 
- [ the 24 min documentary on the 50 yr relationship of Archbishop Desmond & Leah Tutu
as husband & wife ]
 
“In the Dock” – 48 min - 2007
- [ an introspective autobiographical journey by local South African anti-Apartheid film-maker
Kevin Harris – looking back at his life-experience and the circumstances that put him on the
long road to The Delmas Treason Trial ]

 “In the Shadows of  Beau Bassin” – 48 min - 2007
- [ “In the Shadows of Beau Bassin” is the little known saga of 1581 Jewish refugees deported to Mauritius in 1940 and detained at Beau Bassin Prison for some four and a half years during
World War II ]

PERSONAL DETAILS:
Born in Pietermaritzburg, Natal on 5th May 1950.
Qualified at the end of 1973 with a B/Sc. Engineering - Electrical - degree from the University of Natal, Durban.
Entered the film & broadcasting industry - trained & employed by the SABC Television Service from the beginning of 1974.
Was fired from SABC TV in 1979 for contriving to ensure the uncensored broadcast of his documentary on Soweto & Baragwanath Hospital titled, “BARA”
Has worked as an independent film maker in South Africa ever since.

Married, with two children, Kevin Harris lives with his wife & family in Johannesburg.

INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARIES WRITTEN & PRODUCED DURING THE 1980's –
which dealt with the South African situation include: "If God be for us ...", "No Middle Road to Freedom", "The Struggle from Within", "Namibia - no easy Road to Freedom", "Not yet Free" & "Namibia - Rebirth of a Nation" .

Was awarded the STANDARD BANK YOUNG ARTIST AWARD FOR FILM in South Africa for 1992.

PRODUCTIONS COMMISSIONED & BROADCAST BY TV NETWORKS SINCE 1994 INCLUDE:

"Of Courage & Consequence" - the 1hr documentary on the bitter-sweet journey of South Africa's youth across the cutting edge of the political landscape of the past twenty years; nominated for an ARTES AWARD for BEST DOCUMENTARY of 1995;

"SABC TV 20 Years - the untold story" - a 52 minute documentary on the political history of SABC Television; [ SABC 3 ] - [ 1995 / 6 ]

"Somebody's Children" - a 28 minute documentary on the "street children"; [SABC 3 ] - [ 1995 ]

"Heroes & Villains - Good Cop, Bad Cop" - the 52 minute documentary on corruption & transformation in the SA Police Services; [ SABC 3 ] - [ 1996 ]

"MARGINS" - the four-part drama / documentary series comprised of:
1] "Young-blood" - the two part 52 minute drama / documentary
which gives expression to contemporary concerned young black
opinion on issues of teenage-pregnancy, child abuse, teenage
sexuality, rape & AIDS against the back-drop of crime & violence
that make up present-day township life; [ SABC 1 ]
2] "Visions of Street-writers" - the two part 52 minute drama /
documentary scenario workshopped with six "street-writers" - which
reflects on circumstances that lead to & are an integral part of
the homeless & destitute; [ SABC 1 ] - [ 1996 ]

"Save the Children" - the 28 minute documentary looking at "child-abuse" & the
option of "fostering" in the context of the homeless communities in
South Africa today; [ SABC 2 ] - [ 1996 ]

"Robert Sobukwe - a Tribute to Integrity" - the two part 52 minute documentary on
`the life and times of Robert Sobukwe; [ SABC 1 ] - [ 1997 ]

"Behind Bars" - the 48 minute documentary looking "behind bars" - investigating
conditions, corruption & transformation in the Dept of Correctional
Services in South Africa today; [ SABC 3 ] - [ 1997 ]

“Rainbow Courage - A Tribute” - the 26 minute documentary tribute to South Africans who have shown courage & commitment to the “new South Africa” in the face of violence & crime.
[ SABC 1 ] - [ 1997 ]

“Long Walk Home” - the 2 x 24 minute episode documentary on the walk undertaken by exiled poet, musician, economist & journalist - Boudewijn Wegerif - from Sweden to Cape Town - to bring attention to debt oppression, economic injustice & usury. [ SABC 2 - Religion ] - [ 1998 ]

“Matters of Life & Death” - the 48 minute documentary looking at the state of health services delivery with a principal focus on Johannesburg Hospital - [ SABC 3 ] - [ 1998 ]

“Vis-a-Vis” - “Black & Blue” - the International Co-production with Internews New York / Paris & PBS USA - inter-relating the lives of a black South African policeman from SOWETO & an African-American policeman in Philadelphia. - [ PBS - USA - 1998 ]


“Unfinished Business” - the 50 minute feature documentary dealing with “the test of faith” of Joe Seremane & his journey to bring back the physical remains of his younger brother Timothy from exile & uncover the truth surrounding Timothy’s execution by ANC Military Tribunal at Quatro Camp, Angola in 1981. The programme is directed by Kevin Harris & is an international co-production between ABC [ Australia ], Journocam Productions, SABC & Kevin Harris Productions. – [ SABC 2 ] - [ ABC Australia ] - [ 1999 ].
This production has been awarded a “Special Commendation” by the
United Nations Media Peace Awards - Television Category - for 1999.

“What God wants ....?” - a 26 minute documentary on religion & homelessness in South Africa commissioned & broadcast by SABC 2 Religion - 1999.

“Soweto - the passion ... the pain ...” & “Soweto - no more the ‘ghetto’” - the two x 56 min documentary on Soweto past & present commissioned and broadcast by e-TV - 1999 / 2000.

“Tough-love, Sex, Poverty, Infidelity ...?” - the 52 min documentary special on AIDS in South Africa commissioned & broadcast by SABC 2 for International AIDS Day - 2000.

“Youth Centres – Models of Excellence” – a 15 minute Corporate Promotional Video for the Planned Parenthood Association of SA on “youth & AIDS” & the role of PPASA Youth Centres. – 2000.

“Judgement Day” – the 59 minute documentary feature on the current situation in Israel / Palestine taking as a reference point the struggle for liberation in South Africa. Co-produced & broadcast by M-NET & awarded the “best documentary” for 2002 at the Apollo Film Festival.

Carte Blanche episodes - 2002
i] Beyers Naude – A Tribute;
ii] Dewald Pretorius – Small Beginnings – [ story of young SA A-side cricketer who grew up in an orphanage in Bloemfontein];
iii] Zambian Mischief – political shenanigans in current Zambian politics;

“Shapes of things to Come” – 26 minute documentary broadcast on SABC 3 “Xpressions” slot looking at Plastic Surgery & Cosmetic Enhancement in South Africa. [ Nov 2002 ].

Special Assignment episode - 2003
“Conduct Unbecoming”- A special report for SABC 3’s Special Assignment program looking at medical malpractice in the field of “plastic surgery” in South Africa today.

“Delmas – the passion … the pain” – 2004
The 52 minute documentary on the so-named “Delmas Treason Trial” – longest running political trial in South African history which took its course from 1985 to 1990. The documentary looks at the people caught up in political events that precipitated the trial and the effects of the trial on the families of activists incarcerated as a result of this final phase of internal resistance to the grand apartheid design. [ SABC 1 ]

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