HNIFF 2023
The Last Night Of Lockdown
Directed by Lukas Potgieter, Lana Coetzee, … · South Africa · 14 min · short · narrative
The Last Night Of Lockdown follows a typical South African family and family friends as they go about their day-to-day lives, cleaning the house, watching TikTok videos, exercising and more during the Covid-19 pandemic and the nation wide enforced lockdown. However on the last night of lockdown something unexpected happens to two of the characters... The question however is: "WHO DID IT?"
This film's screening window has ended.
From the director
Storytelling has always been my way of making sense of the world. From a young age, I found comfort in performance and later discovered the power of directing—being able to shape a story from behind the lens and give voice to characters who often go unheard. For me, filmmaking is deeply personal. It’s not about chasing perfection; it’s about capturing real emotion, raw moments, and the quiet truths that live between the lines.
Growing up in South Africa, I was surrounded by people with complex, beautiful, and sometimes painful stories. That’s where my love for grounded, character-driven storytelling began. I’m inspired by real life—by the things we feel but can’t always explain. Whether I’m telling a story about a high school dance or a moment of crisis during lockdown, I want my audience to feel seen. I want them to recognize something honest in what they’re watching.
As a director, I care deeply about the actors I work with. Having come from a performance background myself, I know how vulnerable it can be in front of the camera. I always strive to create a space where collaboration and trust lead the process. The goal is never to control the story, but to uncover it together.
At the heart of everything I do is connection. I make films to connect—to people, to stories, to emotions that are sometimes easier to share through a screen than in real life. If one person walks away from my work feeling less alone, then I know I’ve done my job.
