Abongwe L. Booi Unveils South African Sci-Fi ‘Rupture’ – Rupture, a gripping new South African sci-fi short, comes from SAMA-nominated writer, director and producer Abongwe L. Booi, known for projects with Visit Dubai, HBO, Will Linley, Manana, Ben Rodrigues and Duram Paint.
The film follows three special operators sent to an abandoned warehouse on the city’s edge to retrieve a mysterious package. The routine mission collapses when the object reveals its unnatural behaviour, forcing the supernatural into their reality.
The Inspiration
Booi took inspiration from SCP-069, an alarm clock that grows unbearably loud until turned off. That familiar morning irritation became the foundation for a tense story about ordinary reality cracking open.
He pulled the production together fast and shot everything in one long day. Boris Petranko gave a powerful performance next to first-time actors Robert Sam-Kputu and Daniel Koeslag (Booi’s gym trainer). Charles Kes narrated the events and voiced the whistleblower who exposes the mission’s fatal end.
Co-DOP and co-director Dumisa Rankin led the team, ensuring the tight shoot stayed focused and efficient. They were supported by sound recordist Joshua Esousa, PA Hloma Sotyato, and executive producer Mlamli Booi, who helped keep everything on track. Composer Bubele Booi refined the atmosphere over months of post-production.
Booi set out to create a speculative story grounded in South Africa. “I am passionate about authoring South Africa rooted visions of the future, instead of relying on external interpretations of what African futures are supposed to look like.”
He gravitates toward magical realism, fractured realities, and technocratic worlds that feel familiar yet unsettling. “For me, the most exciting part of filmmaking is working with people I love to build something that feels ambitious, challenging, and distinctly unique.”
Rupture serves as a vital step toward his planned debut feature, which will keep exploring South Africa’s future. The short stands out for its bold ambition, strong local South African roots and seamless mix of action, sci-fi and quiet horror.
