South African media company Known Associates Entertainment has secured the African distribution rights to Raoul Peck’s Cannes-winning documentary Ernest Cole: Lost and Found. The film, which chronicles the life and work of the fearless apartheid-era photographer, will open the Joburg Film Festival on March 11.
The acquisition is part of Known Associates’ expansion strategy, which includes a March 26 theatrical release in South Africa and plans to distribute the film across the continent and in the U.S.
The documentary, praised as a “penetrating portrait” by Variety, explores Cole’s career, from his early years documenting apartheid in the late 1950s to his exile in New York, where he published House of Bondage in 1967. The film, narrated by LaKeith Stanfield using Cole’s writings, shared the prestigious L’Oeil d’Or prize for best documentary at Cannes.
Known Associates chairperson Joel Chikapa Phiri revealed that, beyond theatrical distribution, the company is exploring TVOD options to make the film available in African schools and universities. Peck is also set to deliver a masterclass at JBX, an industry event running alongside the festival.
In addition to Lost and Found, Known Associates is expanding its global presence with a planned U.S. theatrical release this fall for Hunting Jessica Brok, an action thriller by Alistair Orr.
The company is also developing a U.S.-based streaming platform in collaboration with South Africa’s eMedia, integrating content from eTV, eVOD, and Known Associates’ catalog. This initiative aims to create original productions for the platform within the next year. The Joburg Film Festival will run from March 11 to 16.