Huse Monfaradi Directs Five-Part Series ‘The Mandela Project’ for YouTube Originals Black Voices Fund

Huse Monfaradi’s latest work 'The Mandela Project' is an insightful and important five part series for YouTube Originals Black Voices Fund. With a global spanning production and starring a diverse range of talent, the message of the series is the importance of community and togetherness championing the spirit of Nelson Mandela Day. One episode features UK rapper Big Zuu and takes us to a community Garden in North London, another episode takes us across the Atlantic with the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air actor; Jabari Banks to encourage Gen Z African Americans to vote. The series also features episodes with ex Manchester United footballer Patrice Evra, Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi and Black-ish stat Marasi Martin.

Huse explained how the project came to be, saying: “It was a huge honour to be series director on 'The Mandela Project', a five part series for YouTube Originals Black Voices Fund, produced through Paramount’s international studio VIS, celebrating the legacy of the great man himself.

Shooting across multiple territories in the UK, US and South Africa and with a diverse range of A-list talents was logistically and creatively challenging, but ultimately extremely rewarding.

The essence of Nelson Mandela Day is to encourage people to take part in community service and acts of kindness. The series took us from Big Zuu working in a community garden in North London alongside an aspiring young female farmer, to the new Fresh Prince Of Bel Air, Jabari Banks, helping run a voter registration drive in Atlanta Georgia, encouraging Gen Z African Americans to vote and meeting with young voting activists.

"Personally, I thrive filming in documentary settings and for this project especially the subject matter was super gratifying, as we entered the homes and lives of everyday people to tell their individual and at times compelling stories.”