Kyla Philander shares their moment in the sun

For Volkswagen South Africa’s new Drive to Defy campaign, the people behind the camera are given their flowers as much as the trailblazers (like Kitty Phetla) who they feature in the films. 

The behind-the-scenes content was directed by Kyla Philander, of Bioscope, who starred in one of these spots themselves. As a young person of color, working doubly hard to be successful is the norm; doing it while also working with depression and anxiety sounds impossibly difficult. The film is honest and authentic, a real look into the life of a young person who continually pushes themselves to perform, despite what their mind and body might say.

Philander says, “The scene we shot where I’m driving to set in the T-Roc and reading my notes, preparing my mind with all the coping strategies I learned from therapy and loved ones - that scene is my truth.” Each film in the series follows a truth, a struggle, and a story.It’s Philander’s nuanced and clear direction that keeps all the films moving forward. Two films have been released, with the remaining two forthcoming in mid-December.