Johannesburg, March: Filmmaker and Director Keith Benza has been nominated for Best Music Video at the Metro FM Music Awards 2026 for his work on Mamma by Zee Nxumalo, marking a major milestone in a year that has also seen the filmmaker return to the big screen at the Joburg Film Festival as a cinematographer.

The nomination recognises Benza’s cinematic direction on the official music video for Mamma, a visually rich and narrative-driven production set in a stylised Sophiatown-inspired world. The video, which has already amassed over 15 million views on YouTube, reflects Benza’s continued focus on world-building and storytelling within South African music visuals.

“From the first listen, the song felt nostalgic in a way that immediately took me to the golden era of South African music,” says Benza. “Sophiatown became the perfect visual language because it allowed us to show growth, not only in Zee as an artist, but in the way we approach storytelling in music videos. I enjoy building worlds, and I believe we are in a golden era of South African music right now, so it felt right to create something that honours the past while still feeling current.”

Beyond the Metro FM Music Awards nomination, Benza is also celebrating the festival run of Mayfair, directed by Leonardo Neo Mokoena, for which he served as Director of Photography. The film has been selected for the Joburg Film Festival, as well as the Saath Jiyo International Film Festival and the International Folklore Film Festival, marking Benza’s second consecutive selection at Joburg as a cinematographer following last year’s Being You, directed by Minenhle Luthuli.

Working through his creative banner Parallel Vision, Benza has become known for crafting cinematic and story-driven visuals for some of South Africa’s most recognisable artists. His recent work includes Ngisakuthanda, which has amassed over 50 million views online, Imali by Karyendasoul and Zakes Bantwini, Ematshwaleni by ANATII and Kususa, as well as early visual work for Elaine on You’re The One.

“I’m excited that artists are putting more focus on their visuals now,” Benza says. “The international success of South African music has raised the standard, and that creates space for directors to be more ambitious. My goal is always to tell South African stories with scale, intention and cinematic care, but in a way that still feels true to where we come from.”

Before returning to South Africa to focus on narrative-driven music visuals and film work, Benza spent nearly a year travelling internationally as a touring visual director during Zakes Bantwini’s global run following the success of Osama, documenting performances and behind-the-scenes moments across multiple countries. He credits that experience with shaping his approach to scale, storytelling, and visual identity.

“That period changed how I see the role of visuals in music,” Benza says. “You realise the audience is not just local, the whole world could be watching. Since then, my focus has been to tell South African stories with the same level of intention and cinematic care you see internationally, but in a way that still feels true to who we are.”

With a Metro FM Music Awards nomination, multiple festival selections, and a growing catalogue of narrative-driven music videos, Benza’s recent run signals the emergence of a filmmaker intent on pushing the visual language of South African music into a more cinematic era.

Please see press images here.