Francois Maree

Francois Maree is an internationally renowned Performing Artist who has made significant contributions to numerous award-winning films, television shows, stage productions, music videos, and radio broadcasts. He starred in the leading role of Tiaan Eilerd in critically acclaimed motion pictures such as "Alison" (2016), produced by kykNET Films. The film was selected to screen at various film festivals around the world, like the Dances with Films Festival in Los Angeles, California. South Africa's most important film critic, Leon van Nierop, singled out Mr. Maree's "excellent performance" on RSG. "Alison" also garnered major critical recognition, earning five SAFTA nominations (South African Film and Television Awards), the country's highest achievement in filmmaking, and the South African equivalent of the Oscars. Maree had a role in "Shepherds and Butchers", directed by Oliver Schmitz, with the illustrious Anant Singh as the producer. The film was selected to be part of the 66th Berlin International Film Festival in 2016, where it received the 3rd place in the Panorama section. Other major achievements of Mr. Maree include his acting and directing on some of the most watched and commercially successful theater and film productions in the United States and South Africa. Maree made his off-Broadway debut as part of the critically acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company production of "King Lear" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Harvey Theater in April 2018 with fellow South African and British stage star, Sir Antony Sher. The RSC is one of the world's leading theater companies based in William Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon. The sold-out run in the Harvey Theater in New York meant that more than 22,000 people saw the production praised by The New York Times. Francois is one of the most exciting, multi-talented performing artists working today. His groundbreaking theater productions have been selected for some of the most prestigious festivals in the world. Maree co-wrote, co-produced and starred in the solo show "Bacchus in Hillbrow" at the Aardklop National Arts Festival, the US Woordfees, and the Vrystaat Arts Festival's vrynge. The selection criteria for each festival was very high, as the best artists in the theater industry around the world get selected and invited to showcase their work at these festivals. One of only 20 plays selected for the festival, Francois sold out his five performances at the Aardklop National Arts Festival, with more than 2,500 people seeing it. A prolific writer, director, and producer, Maree also penned the original play "Wanneer wolke sing" (English title: "When Clouds Sing"), which made its debut at the André Huguenet Theatre as part of the Vrystaat Arts Festival. Big acting heavyweights Elzabé Zietsman, Charlenè Brouwer, and David Johnson shared the stage with Maree. The play was a commercial and critical hit. Other theater productions include "Mother Courage and Her Children", directed by Jerry Mofokeng, with Aletta Bezuidenhout and Deon Lotz in the lead roles, as well as Athol Fugard's "Sorrows & Rejoicings". Additionally, Mr. Maree's performances have earned numerous accolades and awards. He was shortlisted for the Royal Shakespeare Company's Brett Goldin Award at the Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town in May 2016. A cum laude graduate of the University of Stellenbosch's renowned Drama Department, François Maree is a three-time winner of the Highest Achievement in Culture Award at the Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom. For his work in theater, he was invited to join the prestigious Golden Key International Honor Society in 2014 and 2015. His short film "Love. Thy. Neighbor." was also selected to screen at the CUNY Film Festival in New York City. He won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the US Drama Awards in 2013, and the Leonardo DiCaprio Award in 2014.