NYFA BFA Filmmaking Alum Lethabo Mokgatle on hosting the red carpet of the Pan African Film Festival

Lethabo Mokgatle is a NYFA alum from South Africa who graduated with a BFA in Filmmaking.  She recently hosted the red carpet of the Pan African Film Festival where she got to interview and meet some wonderful actors and filmmakers. Lethabo shared with us her experience at the Pan African Film Festival: 

NYFA AN: Tell us a little bit about yourself and what program did you graduate from? 

My name is Lethabo Mokgatle, I am an international student from South Africa. I majored in a Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) in filmmaking. I graduated in 2021 and after that, I went straight into working as a celebrity personal assistant to learn my way in the industry. 

NYFA AN: How did you end up hosting the red carpet of the Pan African Film Festival?

My mentor who was also the lady I was working with invited me to co-host with her. She is an Ambassador for the country of Chad, and she has been in the health and entertainment industry for a long time. I would say I learned from her how to be a red carpet host. 

NYFA AN: Tell us about your experience hosting the red carpet?

It was an amazing experience, for the first time hosting the red carpet I really felt comfortable with the way the evening went. I got to meet all of my favorite celebrities, "Thabitha Brown, Ledisi Anibade Young, Vanessa Williams, Keith David, Keith Robinson, Denise Dowse, Wendy Raquel Robinson, and many more. This was the opening festival night where they were screening the premiere of the movie "Remember me" directed by Denise Dowse, a movie about the late Mahalia Jackson. I was sad that Cornin Blu and Columbus short couldn't make it to the festival as they were also featured in the movie. The celebrities were very welcoming and loved the fact that I was from South Africa. most of them came in different African attires celebrating the continent. After the festival, there was food provided and more networking. 

NYFA AN: What are you currently working on?

Right now I am pleased to say that I am an official crew member of Array Crew, it is Ava Duvernay's crew division for her production company. This has always been a dream of mine. I am also working on a few projects, one will be in July where I will be hosting another red carpet session amongst powerful women in the industry for a health award gala event. I am honored for all that has happened and looking forward to what is coming.