Behind every insightful documentary is a director who knows when to step back and simply listen. For Ian Martin, that instinct has shaped the Bewoners series into one of kykNET’s most impactful factual series. A BrightRock-produced and SAFTA-nominated production now in its fifth season, it’s still finding new ways to surprise.
Martin takes us behind the lens to unpack the vision, craft, and emotional labour that goes into telling these remarkable stories.
What was your initial vision for the Bewoners series, specifically for Season 5?
My vision for the Bewoners series has always been to have real, honest conversations with the unique people who live in different parts of South Africa and connecting those stories to the landscapes they call home. I wanted to bring to life the culture, history, and spirit of these places through the everyday experiences of remarkable individuals. To me, the series is like a living tapestry, where each person’s story reveals a different side of South Africa’s rich and diverse community.
For Season 5, we focused on 26 incredible people, two in each episode, to really showcase the full breadth of the Overberg. We wanted us to travel through different towns and meet people from all walks of life: conservationists, entrepreneurs, artists, and community leaders.
How did you and your team go about discovering the people and ensuring their voices were authentically represented?
Finding 26 distinct individuals across such a diverse region definitely wasn’t easy. We started with lots of research and leaned heavily on friends, acquaintances, and locals throughout the Overberg to point us toward people with meaningful stories. I’ve traveled the region extensively, and while online research can open doors, it’s the real face-to-face conversations that make all the difference.
How did you build the trust and comfort needed for these individuals to open up so genuinely on camera?
Over the past five seasons of Bewoners, we’ve learned that building this trust starts with genuine openness. Our small team shows vulnerability alongside our subjects, sharing our authentic selves to create a safe space. This mutual openness allows people to feel comfortable sharing their truths honestly on camera.
To assess authenticity and representation among candidates, we focused on having open, informal conversations that went beyond surface details to really understand who they are, their values, challenges, and connections to the Overberg. It was important to us that each person not only had a compelling story but that their experience genuinely reflected the region’s cultural and social diversity.
What overarching themes or messages emerged from this season about the Overberg region that you hope will resonate with viewers?
What really stood out about the Overberg is its spirit of resourcefulness and community. Nothing here is wasted, whether it’s people, animals, or materials. The people work with what they have, often re-imagining and re-using to create something new. It’s a welcoming, unpretentious place where a diverse mix of people are united by strong community support and care for one another.
Can you share an anecdote about a particular hurdle you faced during production and how you guided your team through it?
One story that stands out happened mid-production when we faced a major gap in our lineup. We hadn’t been able to contact Tristan Roberts, the Onrus-based, two-time bodyboarding world champion, who we really wanted to feature. Then, mid-shoot, one of our scheduled guests had to be removed.
The very next morning, while starting our shoot day, I stopped by Ou Meul near Hermanus for coffee, completely absorbed in solving this problem, when I literally walked right past Tristan Roberts without realising. I paused, then ran back to introduce myself. What happened next made it into episode 3. That moment reminded me how on-location shoots require faith, flexibility, and attentiveness to the unexpected.
What is the most unique storytelling element, visual approach, or narrative structure you employed in Season 5 that you feel makes it particularly special or sets it apart from previous seasons?
We completely removed the formal interview questions from the edit. Instead, we created an atmosphere that feels like the viewer is stepping into each guest’s world, whether it’s their living room, kitchen, studio, farm, mountain, or beach in the Overberg. This technique lets the stories unfold naturally and more deeply, giving each person the space and time to share their life on their own terms.
By doing this, we crafted a far more intimate and immersive experience, allowing viewers to connect directly with the people and places. It’s like a personal visit rather than a traditional documentary interview.
Can you describe a specific scene or moment during filming, where you felt the raw emotion or profound significance of what you were capturing?
One story that deeply moved me was when I first met Lizaene Cornwall at Panthera Big Cat Sanctuary. The raw power of her devotion to saving and rehabilitating big cats, many rescued from terrible conditions, was palpable. Lizaene’s own painful past, having once been an unknowing participant in an exploitative industry, fuels her relentless commitment to right those wrongs and secure a better future for these beautiful creatures.
Capturing her story meant conveying that mix of pain, hope, and fierce dedication authentically. I focused on intimate moments, her quiet care with the animals, the look in her eyes when she talks about their rescue. We carefully framed these scenes to immerse the audience in her emotional journey, ensuring the profound significance of her work came through powerfully and honestly on screen.
Discover the people, places, and moments that make the Overberg unforgettable. Tune in to Overbergbewoners on kykNET and experience the stories that unfold when the camera steps back and life takes centre stage.