‘The King, The Affair, and the Son Heir’ selected for 2026 American Black Film Festival
Both Worlds is proud to announce an exciting milestone for South African storytelling as its micro-drama The King, The Affair, and the Son Heir has been officially selected for the prestigious 2026 American Black Film Festival (ABFF), as part of the inaugural 9:16 Microdrama Project Showcase.
As the ABFF celebrates its 30th anniversary, it continues to lead the industry by embracing the evolution of storytelling. This year’s festival marks the launch of a dedicated showcase for vertical, mobile-first microdramas, a format that is rapidly transforming how global audiences consume content. The King, The Affair, and the Son Heir is one of only eight productions chosen for this exclusive lineup.
The series is a gripping South African pre-colonial drama, where a queen gives birth to a much longed for heir, but even while the king rejoices, she knows the child’s father is really his right hand man – and the king’s first wife starts to suspect this too.
The production features a powerhouse of emerging and established South African talent, starring Kanyi Nokwe, Lebo Mphahlele, Othembele Nomgca, Phathiswa Tonono, Siyavuya Magaga, conceptualised and written by Anathi Rubela, Mamello Makhetha and Theoline Maphutha, directed by Star Kganki Maphahlele, with the Both Worlds team of Creative Producers Flavia Motsisi and Karen Jeynes, and Executive Producer Thierry Cassuto.
Creative Producer Flavia Motsisi speaks on this exciting milestone
“This is an incredibly exciting moment for South African storytelling,” said Flavia Motsisi, who heads up Both Worlds’ vertical drama division. “This is a great showing for African microdrama. To have our work recognized at a festival as prestigious as ABFF speaks to the universal power of our local narratives and the high caliber of our creative talent. This achievement is a testament to our phenomenal cast and crew, whose dedication and immense talent brought this
intricate world to life with such precision and passion. South African microdrama is ready for the global stage.”
The ABFF 9:16 Microdrama Project Showcase is designed to amplify diverse voices in the vertical content ecosystem. Jeff Friday, Founder of ABFF and CEO of Nice Crowd, noted that this initiative ensures creators of color are leading the way in this new format.
The 2026 American Black Film Festival will take place in Miami beginning May 27, 2026. South African micro-drama ‘The King, The Affair, and the Son Heir’ will be available to festival audiences via the Codeblack app, powered by Hartbeat, offering a dynamic, mobile-first viewing experience.
About Both Worlds
Based in Cape Town, Both Worlds is an award-winning production group known for its diverse slate of content, ranging from satire to international premium drama and innovative digital formats and now, innovating and leading the way in the African microdrama industry space.
