African Couch Potato

Gino Shelile
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Weekly

African Couch Potato is a South African perspective on all things film and television. Hosted by award-winning TV producer, Gino Shelile, it mashes up in-studio interviews with industry professionals, titles to check out each week, a current film or series review, and a look at old movies that are worth rewatching.

  1. 1d ago

    S3 Ep48 Jet Li, Netflix Watchlist, Encounters

    Welcome to the latest News, Views and Reviews with ACP, still the number 1 film and television podcast to listen to in S.A. according to Feedspot.com. Kicking off the week with a bunch of stuff to check out on Netflix: Season 4 of Perfect Match Season 2 of Murder MindfullyA new three part documentary on Kylie plus her "live-in-concert" The sports documentary series Untold hits the UK and first in the spotlight is footballer Jamie VardySacha Baron Cohen returns to the screen with the comedy Ladies Firstand coming very soon is the South African produced biblical story of David. You can check out the soundtrack here       Next up is Gino's review of Rafa, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at Rafael Nadal, his personal life, unseen archives, and his journey to return to competitive play in 2024 after overcoming injuries in 2023. Exclusive Books answered Gino's prayers and sent us Jet Li’s Beyond Life and Death, so our next Movie Book Club will go there. From Kung Fu to comedy. In our second review, Sacha Baron Cohen returns with Ladies First, where a male chauvinist is transported to a matriarchal society, facing challenges from a formidable female version of himself. And finally, the documentary festival, Encounters, is about to kick off, but more on that to come. For tickets and more info, head to the Encounters site.  And a final final, Gino won a game of Baccarat at the new Jade Casino - move over Mr Bond!   Yes? No? Send us a text Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is: instagram.com/africancouchpotato x.com/africancouchpot gino.arlechino@gmail.com WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews  YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube  https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato  Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA) Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting ted@aten.co.za Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    9 min

  2. May 25

    S3 Ep47 Movie Book Club: “The Testaments” by Margaret Atwood

    Welcome to ACP and our brand new Movie Book Club episode. This is a new idea where we cover books that are worth reading, especially if they have been turned into screenplays such as Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, 50 Shades of Grey, Game of Thrones and many more. From our friends at Exclusive Books, we got, among others, The Testaments by Margaret Attwood, currently streaming on Disney Plus. The Testaments is the sequel to the well known The Handmaid's Tale, and is set roughly four years later. The series focuses on a new generation of young women in the dystopian world of Gilead. The story follows Agnes, the biological daughter of Offred, and Daisy, a teen brought into Gilead from outside. Both attend Aunt Lydia’s elite preparatory school for future wives, where obedience is enforced brutally and framed as divine duty. Also check out Gino's list of other books that are either currently streaming on Disney Plus or are on their way: The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian AndersonSnow White Sing-along for a more interactive experienceMufasa: The Lion KingImpossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell, still in development by the studios. Freakier Friday the sequel to the adaptation of Mary Rodger’s “Freaky Friday” which came out in 2003Project Hail Mary by Andy WeirTime to get your read on. Check out your local store or online at exclusivebooks.co.za The Testaments supplied by Exclusive Books- the start to every great read.  Yes? No? Send us a text Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is: instagram.com/africancouchpotato x.com/africancouchpot gino.arlechino@gmail.com WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews  YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube  https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato  Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA) Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting ted@aten.co.za Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    20 min

  3. May 18

    S3 Ep46 Waleed Al-Yamani and Richard Gau on “Martyrs”

    Welcome to ACP, the number 1 film and television podcast to listen to in S.A. according to Feedspot.com, and this week do we have news for you! Coming soon; not just a brand new totally South African action series, but hopefully the start of a whole new hig-impact, African rooted universe. Marvel, you have been warned! This week Gino had the chance to chat to series creator Waleed Al-Yamani, alongside lead actor Richard Gau to talk all things Martyrs.  The mini-series follows the lives of a detective partnership between Rian, a gut-driven rebel, and Lupita, a disciplined military orphan. The pair discover the body of a woman doused with a mysterious drug. This discovery leads them into an underground world, where they uncover a series of dark secrets.  The series is a collaboration between Waleed, and Richard's People's Republic of Entertainment, and will launch on YouTube on June 27. Save the date - it's gonna be hot! Yes? No? Send us a text Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is: instagram.com/africancouchpotato x.com/africancouchpot gino.arlechino@gmail.com WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews  YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube  https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato  Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA) Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting ted@aten.co.za Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    39 min

  4. May 11

    S3 Ep45 Dowelani Nenzhelele on “The People vs VBS”

    Imagine waking up to find your life savings are gone forever. Well, that's what happened to thousands of people in 2018, many of them from rural and low-income communities. who had deposited or invested with VBS Mutual Bank, when it was exposed as the epicentre of a massive fraud and corruption scandal.  In today's ACP, Gino talks, via Zoom, to local documentary filmmaker Dowelani Nenzhelele, whose own family lost hundreds of thousands of rands, about, not only the personal cost, but the pain and suffering visited on the victims, many who still have seen nothing of their missing money. Dowelani talks about how working alongside Idea Candy helped him bring the whole sorry story to the screen. The People vs VBS follows the money to show how a small mutual bank became entangled with multinational auditors, political parties, a royal household and a former president. You can stream The People vs VBS on DStv Stream and don't forget to check out Backpack Films to find out what Dowelani and the next generation of film makers are up to. Yes? No? Send us a text Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is: instagram.com/africancouchpotato x.com/africancouchpot gino.arlechino@gmail.com WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews  YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube  https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato  Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA) Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting ted@aten.co.za Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    23 min

  5. May 4

    S3 Ep44 Jason Jacobs & Devon Delmar on “Variations on a Theme”

    Variations on a Theme, a South African drama by directors Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar,  just won the coveted Tiger Award for best competition film at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in The Netherlands, and has now gone on to win the Best African Film award at the Joburg Film Festival 2026 Gala Awards. So, obvs, we needed to talk to them. Gino got hold of them via Zoom to get some insight into the "whats?" and "whys?" behind the film.  It tells the story of an elderly goat herder, Hettie, who falls victim to a scam promising long-overdue reparations for her father’s WWII service. As she waits for money that will never come, the disruptions of her 80th birthday threaten to strip away the last of her independence.  Devon adds, “Although the film is fictional, it's based on the real experiences of people who have historically borne the brunt of a lot of injustices and continue to fall victim to these scams". The Tiger Competition jury said: “Possessing a deep poetic language, we found this to be a thoughtful and moving portrait of a community living under the spectre of colonial legacies and familial bonds in this world and the next.” You can catch Variations on a Theme at Ster-Kinekor V&A Nouveau in Cape Town or at Rosebank Nouveau in Johannesburg.  Yes? No? Send us a text Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is: instagram.com/africancouchpotato x.com/africancouchpot gino.arlechino@gmail.com WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews  YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube  https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato  Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA) Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting ted@aten.co.za Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    22 min

  6. Apr 27

    S3 Ep43 Michael, BTS, Cynthia Shange, The Beast & The SAFFA Stunt Awards

    With invites from all over, this week Gino was spolt for choice. Welcome to African Couch Potato, the No.1 film and television podcast to listen to in SA according to Feedspot.com Firstly, on a sad note, trailblazing beauty queen and established actress, Cynthia Shange has left us. After being crowned Miss Black South Africa she went on to represent the country at Miss World in 1972. She was also the lead star in South Africa's first black feature film, Udeliwe.  The invites! Invite number 1 was to Michael, at the IMAX with Laser in Rosebank. A long, long time in production, the movie follows Michael's rise to stardom from the early days in the 60s to his explosion as a megastar in the early 90s. Go! Invite number 2 was another groundbreaker in a way. BTS is a South Korean boy band who have made it big all over the world. After a pause to do military service, they reunited and started touring again. Their recent Arirang World Tour Tokyo concert was livestreamed to cinemas globally and Gino was there with the rest of the ARMY (Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth). The 12th Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards are around the corner and this year they will be hosted by SA's Nomzamo Mbatha and Nigeria’s producer-comedian-actor, Bovi on the 9th May in Lagos. While, on the same day, the SAFFA Stunt Awards are happening in Cape Town, you can get tickets by calling +27 83 716 1821. And, don't miss the next ep, when Gino chats to directors Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar about their film, Variations on a Theme, which premiered earlier in 2026, won the Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and Best African Film at the 2026 Joburg Film Festival. Be there! Yes? No? Send us a text Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is: instagram.com/africancouchpotato x.com/africancouchpot gino.arlechino@gmail.com WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews  YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube  https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato  Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA) Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting ted@aten.co.za Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    10 min

  7. Apr 20

    S3 Ep42 Zenobia Kloppers on a Double Premiere ("180" and "Hive")

    Big fanfare! We have hit another first. This week sees the very first time we have featured a return guest. Welcome back Zenobia Kloppers, and she is here to do the double on ACP as she is doing the double in the film world. A rare occassion indeed. Zenobia has two movies coming out on two different streamers on the same day. When Zenobia was with us last she chatted to Gino about Finding Optel and Fiela se Kind amog other things.  And now she is back to talk about her two latest works. Firstly the crime-thriller180 tells the tale of an enraged father who spirals down a dark path of emotional turmoil and vengeance when an unexpected road rage incident leaves his son in a critical condition. You can find 180 on Netflix. In a different direction is Hive, a horror story about a teen babysitter who loses the baby in her care. She finds herself facing a dark menace lurking among the playground children. Hive is currently on Tubi, a US-based streaming site, so check tubitv.com to see if it is available in your country. To get in touch with Zenobia professionally, you can email Monique on monique@moze.co.za In other news, the second SAFFA Stunt Awards is taking place on 9 May at the Avalon Theatre in Cape Town. For bookings call +27 83 716 1821. If you can, please suppport this lesser-featured section of the film world. And finally, don't miss our next episode when Gino will report back on the premiere of Michael  at the state-of-the-art IMAX® with Laser in Rosebank. Should be a Thriller! Yes? No? Send us a text Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is: instagram.com/africancouchpotato x.com/africancouchpot gino.arlechino@gmail.com WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews  YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube  https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato  Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA) Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting ted@aten.co.za Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    24 min

  8. Apr 13

    S3 Ep41 IMAX, Emperors Easter Weekend, Netflix Watchlist, DGSA Creative Awards

    What's better than IMAX? IMAX with Laser, of course. This week saw Gino get an invite ticket to check out the latest IMAX with Laser at The Zone @ Rosebank. With next generation projection technology that delivers brighter images, deeper contrast and unparalleled clarity, IMAX with Laser is now open. Check it out! And from the previous weekend, Gino also got to spend some time at Emperors Palace to take in some of their Easter Royale week. Family fun, with plenty of competitions to keep you entertained. Back to TV and next up is your Top Ten watchlist for Netflix: Untold: Chess MatesTrust Me: The False ProphetThrashThe Truth and Tragedy of Moriah WilsonThe Predator of SevilleSheng Wang: PurpleTemptation Island S2One Piece S2BTS The ReturnAge of AttractionMissing Showmax? Here's where to find all that content, and finally we take a quick look at the Directors Guild of South Africa’s Creative Awards which took place over the weekend in Cape Town.   That's it from African Couch Potato, the number 1 film and television podcast to listen to in S.A. according to Feedspot.com.  Yes? No? Send us a text Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is: instagram.com/africancouchpotato x.com/africancouchpot gino.arlechino@gmail.com WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews  YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube  https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato  Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA) Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting ted@aten.co.za Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    9 min
See All (152)

About

African Couch Potato is a South African perspective on all things film and television. Hosted by award-winning TV producer, Gino Shelile, it mashes up in-studio interviews with industry professionals, titles to check out each week, a current film or series review, and a look at old movies that are worth rewatching.

Information

  • Creator
    Gino Shelile
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    152
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 African Couch Potato
  • Show Website
    African Couch Potato