A Conversation with NYFA Alum, Director/Producer, Denise Khumalo

NYFA Alum Denise Khumalo is a director and producer based in LA. Since graduating from the MFA Filmmaking program in 2014, Denise has worked on numerous projects. Most recently she's the producer of "The Matumbila's", an animated comedy series about a Tanzanian family living in America. The series was picked up as a first-ever original series on kweliTV, a black owned streaming network.

Denise spoke to NYFA about the project and her career.

NYFA Alumni Network: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you're from, and what brought you to New York Film Academy?

D. K: I was born and raised in Zimbabwe and I moved to the US to pursue my career as a filmmaker. I have always had a passion for storytelling therefore I knew that after I graduated high school that I wanted to follow my filmmaking dreams in America. I attended University in upstate NY for my BS in Communications: TV and Film, I loved New York but I wanted to give the West coast a chance as it is known as the film capital of the world. That is the reason why I came to NYFA - Los Angeles, to further my education and I received my Master in Filmmaking. New York Film Academy has a stellar reputation and amazing opportunities which has allowed me to become the award winning Director/Producer that I am today.

NYFA Alum Denise Khumalo

NYFA Alumni Network: What projects have you worked on since graduating? Have you won any awards or been showcased in any festivals or competitions?

D.K: Since my graduation from NYFA in 2014, I am happy to say that I have had tremendous success in the entertainment industry. I have an award winning documentary titled "Khayalami" (My Home) streaming on Amazon Prime. My latest film "Unconventional" is a documentary that showcases and highlights people of colour and immigrants in Los Angeles, it captures their journey to success, inspires fellow artists to follow their dreams and was an award winner at the Inside Nollywood International Film Festival & Awards.

NYFA Alumni Network: Tell us more about your latest project & how you got involved in the project?

D.K: Currently, I am the producer for the animated series "The Matumbila's", an animated comedy series about a Tanzanian family living in America. I am also the voice of the mother character "Zainat". It was picked up as a first-ever original series on kweliTV, a black owned streaming network. I found this opportunity through Facebook, there are so many groups on there that have amazing job opportunities. It was a job posting on the BIPOC group "Hue You Know" and the director was looking for a producer for Season 1 and we are currently on Season 2. Being a part of the series from the very beginning and being able to see it grow and receive so much success is what truly makes me happy.

I am also so excited to have had the opportunity to be a writer and producer for a Podcast on Apple and Spotify podcasts titled, "This Immigrant Life Podcast" which is about two black, immigrant award winning women directors/producers sharing the good, bad, and ugly of working in the film industry.

NYFA Alumni Network: What did you learn at NYFA that you applied directly to this project and others?

D.K: I can honestly say that NYFA went above and beyond in teaching me how to prepare for set-life in the film industry. It taught me organizational skills as a producer and the creativity of a director.

NYFA Alumni Network congratulates Denise on all her success!

A Conversation with NYFA Alum, Director/Producer, Denise Khumalo

Q&A with NYFA Alum Andres Garcia, Cine Gear Audience Award Winner

Q&A with NYFA Acting Alum Maria de Sa, part of the cast of Netflix's "Turn of the Tide"

Q&A with NYFA Alum Aristides Mantilla, winner of 2026 Directors Guild of America (DGA) Student Spotlight Award

CONTACT