Louw Venter


Louw Venter, is a South African actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his directorial and writing roles in the popular films The Tree, Konfetti and Swartwater.

Personal life

He was born on 16 August 1975 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Career

In 2001, he made film debut with Final Solution where he made a minor role as a 'Paramilitary member'. In 2002, he played a supportive role 'Marco' in the Italian film The Piano Player directed by Jean-Pierre Roux. In 2003, he starred in two films: Adrenaline and Citizen Verdict.
Apart from acting, he is also a scriptwriter who wrote the critically acclaimed award-winning film Konfetti which was directed by Zaheer Goodman-Bhyat. Apart from that, he was the writer of television serials: Rugby Motors and Vinkel & Koljander. In 2015, he made directorial debut with the short film Leemte. After the success of the film, he made the television serial Vinkel & Koljander in 2016. In 2016, he became famous with the feature film Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu, which was based on a true story. In the film, he played a supportive role of 'Van Heerden'. The film was a critical success and awarded at several film festivals.
Venter also formed a comedy duo with fellow South African comedian Rob van Vuuren. The two appeared as characters Corne and Twakkie in a series of YouTube videos and a program called The Most Amazing Show. Venter also played Van Vuuren's brother in the comedy Van der Merwe in 2017.
In 2018 Venter was participating in a film in which the actor Odwa Shweni died. Venter was acting out a fight scene with Shweni when he was swept over a waterfall to his death. Early accounts blamed the directors, but they later implicated Venter in Shweni's death. According to one account, Venter called the scene without the authority to do so and failed to follow the instructions for the scene.
In 2020, he directed and wrote his maiden feature film Stam which was released on DStv's BoxOffice in October. The film had its worldwide premiere at the Durban International Film Festival in September 2020. It also premiered at the 18th Tofifest International Film Festival 2020 in Poland. The film won the Best South African Film Award at the 2020 Durban International Festival.

Partial filmography

YearFilmRoleGenreRef.
2007Big FellasBullseyeFilm
2012Semi-SoetHertjie GreylingFilm
2014KonfettiLukasFilm
2016Die BoekklubAltusTV series
2016Vinkel & KoljanderErik CombrinkTV series
2016Kalushi: The Story of Solomon MahlanguVan HeerdenFilm
2016The Discovery of FireThe ManShort film
2016Twee Grade van MoordJan RademeyerFilm
2016HotelCharlie HoboTV series
2017Hoener met die Rooi SkoeneCaptain Hendrik GreylingFilm
2017KampterreinJan FouchéFilm
2017Van der MerweWillem van der MerweFilm
2018SwartwaterFrancois le RouxTV series
2018KloofShort film
2019SwaaibraaiAntonShort film
2021Seal TeamHarbor SealFilm
TBDIndemnityErnst ViljoenFilm