MHz Choice Brings South African Drama ‘Cousins,’ Inspired by a True Crime Story, to U.S. Audiences
MHz Choice to Premiere South African Crime Drama ‘Cousins’ in North America
MHz Choice has announced the North American debut of the acclaimed South African crime drama Cousins, set to launch in August. The series is presented in Afrikaans and is based on the true story of two 12-year-old cousins, Issie Fourie and Petro Nel, who were kidnapped from a quiet town in South Africa’s Free State in the 1960s—a case that ended in tragedy. One of the girls’ brothers, André, spearheaded the quest for justice, a struggle that spanned nearly two decades.
The nine-episode limited series initially premiered on kykNet, an Afrikaans-language channel associated with Canal+-owned pay-TV provider MultiChoice, where it garnered critical acclaim and was nominated for Best Afrikaans TV Series at the National Film & TV Awards South Africa.
“Cousins is a haunting and evocative period crime drama and a powerful story of loss and justice that transcends geography,” stated Lance Schwulst, EVP of Content Strategy at MHz Choice. “We’re incredibly proud to introduce this moving, cinematic series to U.S. audiences.”
Nomsa Philiso, Director of Content for General Entertainment in English and Portuguese at MultiChoice, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, saying, “MHz Choice has a strong track record of championing exceptional international storytelling, and we’re thrilled that Cousins will join their lineup. As a Canal+ company, we remain committed to bringing distinctive African stories to global viewers, and this partnership marks another meaningful step in that journey.”
Kino Lorber’s MHz Choice is known for acquiring premium non-English-language dramas and is currently scouting for new international shows, with a team present at the drama festival Series Mania this week.
Written by Saartjie Botha (Poppie Nongena) and Philip Rademeyer (In Die Verloop Van), and directed by Jaco Bouwer (Spinners), Cousins is produced by Wolflight Films, with Roelof Storm (Koek) serving as the executive producer.
