Making art with your car

In the gritty streets of the city, Ethan, a 17-year-old with fire in his veins, races against time as a driver for a local gang. Bound by duty to his younger brother but repulsed by the dark path he treads, Ethan stumbles upon a glimmer of hope in the world of spinning—an electrifying motorsport where his skills find a new purpose. As the ominous clouds of a gang war loom, can he shift gears fast enough to rewrite his destiny?

Get ready for a pulse-pounding ride as Spinners, the game-changing African drama, roars onto screens.

Sub-Saharan viewers can catch every heart-stopping episode on Showmax starting November 8, 2023, with weekly drops every Wednesday. And for CANAL+ subscribers in Africa, the action kicks in on November 13, 2023. STUDIOCANAL is set to take this gripping saga worldwide.

Leading the charge are the luminaries of the screen, with Cantona James from Arendsvlei and the mesmerizing Chelsea Thomas at the helm. Joining them are Dillon Windvogel (of Blood & Water fame) and Elton Landrew (known for Recipes for Love & Murder). The trailer teases glimpses of SAFTA winners Brendon Daniels and Dann Jaques Mouton, along with the brilliant David Isaacs (co-creator of Joe Barber) and rising sensation Katlego Lebogang, bringing a formidable police presence.

Guiding this roller-coaster of emotions is Jaco Bouwer, the visionary behind the 2022 SAFTA Best TV Drama, “4 Mure,” and the 2021 SXSW Cinematography champion, “Gaia,” a film with the highest nominations at the upcoming 2023 SAFTAs.

In May 2023, Cantona clinched the Best Performance award at the inaugural Dakar Series, while Spinners revved up to grab Best TV Series and Best Editing honors, thanks to the talents of 2023 SAFTA nominee Andrea Shaw and SAFTA winner Matthew Swanepoel.

For those yet to witness the heart-stopping artistry of spinning, Cantona paints the picture: “Spinning is making art with your car. It’s about pulling donuts, crafting eights, with people daring gravity outside a spinning car, even standing tall on top of it. It’s an absolute thrill.”

Chelsea, for whom spinning is a cherished part of her roots, reminisces, “Spinning has been etched in the culture of Cape Town, especially in the Cape Flats. I grew up in Kraaifontein, and every Sunday, it was off to the pitch where cars spun their tales. And it was always men. When I joined Spinners, I discovered that women are now owning this sport. Spinners unveils the passion, the drive, the rush. I can’t wait for the world to witness our essence.”

Crafted by the genius of producer Joachim Landau and showrunner Benjamin Hoffman of Empreinte Digitale, this 16LVPD-rated series, served in English, Kaaps, and Afrikaans, finds its heartbeat in the collaboration with Ramadan Suleman, the acclaimed winner of Locarno, Amiens, and FESPACO awards, and his powerhouse team at Natives at Large.

Martin Hiller, the maestro behind FAME Week Africa, exclaims, “We are thrilled to present Spinners at MIP Africa. This ground-breaking series not only showcases the incredible talent within the African film industry but also highlights the diverse and captivating stories emerging from the continent. Spinners is a testament to the power of African storytelling and its ability to captivate audiences on a global scale. We look forward to the discussions and insights that this series will undoubtedly generate during MIP Africa.” Hold onto your seats, for Spinners is set to ignite screens and leave you breathless!