WATCH | EXCLUSIVE: “I Almost Walked Away”: Eldon van Aswegen on the 13-Year Journey Behind FOSTA

Thirteen years!

That’s how long it took director Eldon van Aswegen to bring FOSTA to the big screen—and there were moments when he wasn’t sure he would ever make it to the finish line.

At the heart of the documentary is Thulani “Fosta” Headman, a former gang member from Langa whose life took an extraordinary turn after prison.

Determined to leave his past behind, Fosta found purpose through electronic music, helping co-found Bridges Academy—a creative learning space that has opened doors for young people in the township—and eventually sharing a stage with Grammy-winning producer Skrillex at Glastonbury. It’s a remarkable journey of redemption, resilience and the life-changing power of second chances.

But behind Fosta’s inspiring transformation is another story that audiences don’t see on screen. For more than a decade, Eldon followed every setback, breakthrough and milestone, often questioning whether he had the strength to keep going. Yet something about Fosta’s journey kept pulling him back behind the camera.

FOSTA will have its world premiere at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) on 24 July 2026, screening at 5PM at Suncoast CineCentre as part of the festival’s opening weekend.

Now in this exclusive Q&A with Africa Jamz FM News, Eldon speaks to us about what first convinced him that Fosta’s story needed to be told, the defining moments that made him realise its impact stretched far beyond Langa, the challenges that nearly made him walk away after 13 years, how the experience changed him both professionally and personally, and the lasting message he hopes audiences will carry with them long after the credits roll.

Let’s hear what he had to say:

1. Eldon, you followed Fosta’s journey for 13 years. What did you see in him all those years ago that made you believe his story deserved more than a few days of filming—and what kept proving you right?

“The question Valentino asked me was, ‘Can music be used as a tool to uplift and inspire people?’

“When I did the first interview with Fosta, I could see the inspiration in his eyes. He was just incredibly focused and incredibly driven, and he knew what he wanted. So that was the initial thing: just the passion I saw.

“What kept it going for 13 years was how he wouldn’t stop at anything to do what he wanted to do. That’s what I think really connected me with Fosta: that pure drive and that pure vision to do good through music, to uplift and inspire others, and to do it the right way.

“He’s just a really humble and good-natured person. Seeing that evolve kept me going with him. And just the fact that Fosta showed me 100% trust. I definitely didn’t always know what I was doing, but I would go link up with him, and his drive and passion kept me going. He was there for me every single time, from the beginning until now, and I’m very grateful to him for that,” said Eldon.

2. You had a front-row seat to Fosta’s transformation for more than a decade. Was there ever a moment when you realised you were no longer documenting a story of redemption, but witnessing history in the making?

“There were two big turning points.

“His first trip overseas was a massive moment because you just saw somebody who’d worked his whole life suddenly feel seen and feel rewarded for all his effort and his time. So that was a major, major moment. Seeing him blossom on his first trip overseas to experience Glastonbury was just an absolutely beautiful human moment.

“The second turning point was the last stage of building the school, when he really came to the fore as an absolute driving force in the community, just doing what needed to be done to get that vision realised. He believed in it 100%. That was history in the making because you know that school now stands there, in the heart of Langa. No matter what the future holds for anybody, it’s there, and it’s been created 100% through his and a few other people’s diligent efforts.

“He started that transformation as a mentor to one, Siphe Fassie. So I have loved seeing him flourish in the school as a mentor to many, as a shining light in that school and community, to classes of 60 students,” said Eldon.

3. You admitted there were times you wanted to give up on this film. What was the lowest point during those 13 years, and what – or who – gave you the strength to keep going?

“I would say the lowest point, funnily enough, was probably the latter part of the journey: the post-production.

“I’m just passionate, and I want to film and I want to tell the story. And you can film and follow someone for free for a very long time, but it’s in post-production that a lot of the real work starts, and you can’t do that on your own.

“Neil and Laura from Storyscope really helped guide the vehicle at that stage and gave me a lot of support, as the emotional toll at that stage was also quite high. There was a lot to navigate and negotiate. We needed a lot of signatures and a lot of support to just get it finished, but all that pushback also created a better film every step of the way,” said Eldon.

4. After spending 13 years behind the camera, how did telling Fosta’s story change you—not just as a filmmaker, but as a person?

“In every way imaginable.

“13 years is a very long time. You go through a lot of self-development and self-growth, and Fosta’s story guided me through a lot of that. It helped me navigate and face many challenges throughout that journey.

“I think people face challenges all the time; that’s what I hope to bring across in the film. In hard times, you lean into it and you learn from it. And when you’re up, you try and lift those around you through the process. Fosta’s story helped give me the will to carry on despite any adversity and just keep going,” said Eldon.

5. If audiences leave the cinema remembering only one thing about FOSTA, what do you hope stays with them long after the credits roll?

“I guess what I would like them to take away from the film is just that good things can come from challenges and pushing through. It doesn’t matter where you are, just keep going. You can create good things from any struggle and any challenge. Every challenge is an opportunity.

“And I hope the documentary inspires anybody in any creative space to just go out there and pursue their dreams, and to just believe in themselves. If you’ve got something in your mind, it’s cliche but don’t stop and just go until you get there. Quitting is not an option,” said Eldon.

Now, let’s take a look at the FOSTA trailer

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