Director Henk Pretorius

Henk Pretorius is a Britain-based, multi-award-winning and commercially celebrated South African-born filmmaker.

Nominated by the Mail & Guardian as one of the Top 200 Young South Africans (2013),
Henk Pretorius won the Golden Space Needle Award (2013) at the Seattle International Film Festival.

The Unfamiliar (2020) is Henk Pretorius' first British feature film. Henk has refined his skill as a filmmaker on some of South Africa's most loved comedies and dramatic features.

Henk directed The Unfamiliar (2020) and wrote the script with writer Jennifer Nicole Stang. Llewelynn Greeff and Barend Kruger produced the film, starring Jemima West (The Mortal Instruments, Indian Summers) and Christopher Dane (Ren, Born of Hope). Vertical Entertainment acquired The Unfamiliar for a North American cinema release, and the film will premiere at The Cannes Film Festival's virtual market.

Henk and Llewelynn, from Dark Matter Studios, have been making films together since 2012 and are both inspired by the business partnership between Ron Howard and Brian Grazer at Imagine Entertainment.

Director Statement

The Unfamiliar is about a British army doctor's incredible strength to safe her family from an invisible enemy. Elizabeth "Izzy" Cormack is both a British army doctor, but also an incredible mother.