Untitled Skates: A short film exploring young black female skating culture
In the suburbs of Johannesburg lies a unique subculture of young Black female skaters working against the odds to pursue their passion.
Directed by Koketso Matabane, Untitled Skates is a documentary short film that explores the unwavering enthusiasm of these young skaters. “I was drawn to the stories of these young women, of their resilience in the face of societal pressures,” says Koketso.
The short film follows the lives of three young women as they find their way into the skating subculture, and how they navigate the male-dominated space. Tracing the stories of the young women, the film explores the challenges they encounter, from cultural differences to family interference, as well as the importance of having a sense of community in overcoming these obstacles.
“This project was a little left of field for me,” Koketso says. “I usually work on music videos and fashion films with a bit of documentary here and there, but mostly, it was surprising because I didn't know much about skating. And the audience doesn’t need to either, because it's about more than skating—it's really about passion.”
The film premiered at FAME Shorts Film Festival 2024 which took place from 4 to 7 September at the Labia Theatre in Cape Town. The festival ran concurrently with FAME Week—the annual festival highlighting media, film and fashion from the continent.
Koketso studied writing and directing for film at AFDA and has earned a name for her strong narratives and rich visuals. Having also just wrapped on a short film for S.W.A.N.K., the director has recently been nominated for two awards at the London Fashion Film Festival. Koketso worked closely with her lifelong friend Arfin Woyatmadja who was the director of photography on the project. The pair created Untitled Skates from a desire to share the unique stories of the women in the film.
“I discovered Jeanne Kalema Nduwa—one of the skaters we featured—through another project I was working on at the time, and she so willingly brought us into this world we didn’t know existed,” Koketso says. She further explains that they worked closely with the women to craft the story, having worked without a script and little direction ahead of filming.
“I would love to see these extraordinary women get the recognition and support they deserve to continue pursuing what they love,” she says. Koketso hopes to continue sharing impactful and meaningful stories, rooted in her own personal experience. “I also hope that when people watch this film, they feel the passion of these young women and feel inspired.”
Follow Koketso Matabane on Instagram.
Words by Nabeela Karim for Letterhead.