TEAM
THIERRY CASSUTO
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Thierry Cassuto is an award-winning TV and film producer with over 30 years of experience, spanning network executive roles, writing, and independent production. In France, he founded popular culture channel Paris Première and was instrumental in launching national network M6, shaping some of its most iconic original shows. He later served as President of Hanna-Barbera France before launching indie production company TVTV, supplying original scripted and unscripted programming to all major French networks.
Since moving to South Africa and founding Both Worlds in 1998, Thierry has produced hundreds of hours of original content, including the twice International Emmy-nominated and multiple SAFTA-winning ZANews: Puppet Nation, hit panel shows Point of Order and Parlement Parlement, and the PAFF-winning documentary Africa & I. More recently, he co-created and produced Recipes for Love and Murder, starring Maria Doyle Kennedy (MultiChoice, AMC Networks, AcornTV, Telepool), now in its second season, as well as The Morning After, starring Amara Okereke, in association with Amazon Prime Video and ARD, and distributed by Federation.
Thierry holds an MA in Comparative Literature from the Sorbonne and an MSc in Broadcasting from Boston University. He’s a founding member of South Africa’s Independent Producers Organisation, a consultant for think tank Futureworld, and sits on the International Emmy Awards Committee
KAREN JEYNES
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Karen Jeynes joined Both Worlds in 2014, bringing with her a rich background as a writer and director for both stage and screen. Her award-winning plays—like Everybody Else (is Fcking Perfect)*, Kiss Kiss, I’ll Have What She’s Having, and Laying Blame—have earned critical acclaim, while Vaslav was nominated for three Fleur du Cap Awards. On television, she’s made her mark as head writer for the long-running SABC drama 90 Plein Street and has written for Thabang Thabong, Vaya Mzansi, Moferefere Lenyalong, and multiple Mzansi Magic films.
At Both Worlds, Karen has played a key role in developing and overseeing productions alongside creative partner Thierry Cassuto. She co-wrote and co-directed scripted series like The Morning After and Recipes for Love and Murder, now in its second season. She also served as co-executive producer and head writer for the twice International Emmy-nominated ZANews: Puppet Nation, as well as comedy formats Point of Order, Comedy Central News, Parlement Parlement, and the award-winning documentary Africa and I.
Beyond her work in film and TV, Karen is deeply committed to industry inclusivity. She co-founded DAWN (Disabled Audiovisual Workers Network) and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Pretoria, focusing on autistic representation in South African television.
THATO CASSUTO
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Thato is the driving force behind how our films and TV projects connect with stakeholders and audiences. Drawing from over 11 years of executive experience in advertising and marketing—managing key accounts like Standard Bank, Liberty, MTN, and South African Tourism—Thato has handled everything from retail campaigns to brand positioning.
Serving as an Executive Producer on shows such as The Morning After and Recipes for Love and Murder, she ensures our stories get made—but just as importantly get seen. With a sharp eye on trends, audience insights, and digital innovation, Thato blends creativity with strategy to keep Both Worlds’ content resonating worldwide.
She holds a BA in Marketing Communication from the University of Johannesburg, along with certificates from Wits Business School (Bankseta: Future-Fit Senior Banker Development) and the Institute of Directors South Africa (Toastmaster Speechcraft).
ANNEMARIE DU PLESSIS
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Annemarie brings a wealth of experience in production and a deep understanding of local talent and industry stakeholders. She plays a crucial role in ensuring that our productions are executed at the highest level of excellence—no matter the budget. From pre-production to final delivery, she expertly balances creative ambition with logistical precision, ensuring every project runs smoothly and reaches its full potential.
With a diverse background spanning web series, reality shows, animation, and action-packed shorts, Annemarie has built a reputation for delivering high-quality productions across formats. Her impressive career includes winning a SAFTA (South African Film and Television Award) for Best Lifestyle Series for Die Broer Toer S1 and producing the internationally acclaimed web series Start it Up. More recently, she worked on the hit reality series Die Real Housewives van die Wynlande and the Showmax Original Koek. Her projects Die Swart Draak Ontwaak and As, which premiered at the 11th annual Silwerskerm Festival, collectively earned 12 nominations and 4 awards.
With her exceptional production expertise, problem-solving mindset, and meticulous attention to detail, Annemarie is instrumental in bringing Both Worlds’ projects to life—on time, on budget, and at the highest standard.
Alisha Sadler-Almeida
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Alisha joined Both Worlds in 2017, bringing a wealth of financial expertise to the team. Since then, she has played a key role in ensuring regulatory compliance, driving growth, and maintaining financial stability across multiple film and television productions. As head of finance, she oversees production accounts and supports the team in navigating the complexities of the ever-changing local and international creative economy.
Before stepping into the world of entertainment, Alisha built an impressive career in the gaming and food industries. She spent over eight years in senior roles at GPI Management Services, a division of Grand Parade Investment Limited (GPI), where she held positions including Grandslots General Manager, Chief Operating Officer: Slots, and Director of Slots Operating Entities. She later transitioned to GPI’s Grand Foods division, where she played a pivotal role in bringing Burger King® to South Africa as Financial Director.
A qualified Chartered Accountant since 2004, Alisha started her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she spent seven years in the Auditing Division, finishing as a Senior Audit Manager.
ANATHI NTABENI
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Anathi Ntabeni is our key Production Accountant, ensuring the financial efficiency and smooth execution of our productions. With a strong background in production accounting, she plays a crucial role in managing budgets, tracking expenses, and maintaining financial oversight on key projects, all while navigating the complexities of compliance and reporting to funders and partners—both public and private.
At Both Worlds, she has served as Production Accountant on The Morning After and Recipes for Love and Murder Season 2, bringing precision and expertise to every stage of the production process. Her extensive experience includes working on a range of high-profile film and television projects such as The Watch, Spinners, Our Girl, Lea to the Rescue, and Dias Santana.
Anathi’s meticulous attention to detail and deep understanding of production finance, compliance, and reporting make her an invaluable asset to the team, ensuring that every project is delivered with financial discipline, operational excellence, and full transparency to all stakeholders.
ANATHI RUBELA
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Anathi Rubela joined Both Worlds in 2023. As a Development and Production Coordinator, he plays a key role in shaping new projects and fostering relationships with our local and international partners. With a strong background in writing, story development, and production coordination, he works across multiple projects, ensuring a seamless flow from concept to execution. Whether participating in the development of new projects, supporting production teams, or collaborating with partners, Anathi is instrumental in keeping our creative pipeline dynamic and efficient.
A passionate storyteller, Anathi has co-written and performed in several university productions, including Nguve ya Mbegu, which premiered at the National Arts Festival in 2019 and won a Standard Bank Ovation Award. In 2021, he was selected for the Queer Writers Incubator, hosted by FemmeProjects and Free Film School in Cape Town, where he honed his screenwriting skills under the mentorship of top film and television professionals.
Before joining Both Worlds, Anathi spent ten months at Bomb Productions, developing a new telenovela and scripting multiple episodes. At Both Worlds, he initially contributed as a development assistant, working on the story development and writing for the second season of the internationally acclaimed series Recipes for Love and Murder.
Anathi holds a BA (Hons) in Theatre and Performance, specializing in Acting, bringing a deep understanding of storytelling from both a writer’s and performer’s perspective.
CARLA Kovacsik
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Carla Kovacsik joined Both Worlds in 2025 as a Development Assistant, supporting the team in streamlining workflows and contributing to both the creative and logistical aspects of projects. With hands-on experience in storytelling and production from working on a young adult TV show and a documentary during her studies, she brings fresh insights and a passion for dynamic narratives. An avid series enthusiast, Carla enjoys exploring new storytelling trends and industry innovations. She holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science and a Master’s in Production and New Media from Sciences Po Grenoble.