About / Creative Director & Founder
Xolani Cele.
Creative Director & Founder — Audio Visual Lab. Cinematographer. 18+ years in film and television.
About Xolani
18 Years Behind the Lens.
Xolani Cele is a seasoned cinematographer and the Creative Director and Founder of Audio Visual Lab — a Durban-based video production studio he established in 2014. With more than 18 years in film and television, Xolani brings a comprehensive understanding of production design, lighting, and acoustics that ensures every frame is crafted with purpose and precision.
His career spans broadcast journalism, documentary filmmaking, corporate video, and brand film — with credits ranging from the FIFA World Cup 2010 and Nelson Mandela's funeral to the World Economic Forum in Davos and the BRICS Summit. He has covered the world's most demanding stages and built a studio equipped to deliver that same standard for South Africa's most ambitious organisations.
At Audio Visual Lab, Xolani leads creative direction, cinematography, and the overall visual standard of every production. His philosophy is simple: every frame must earn its place.
18+
Years Experience
2014
AVL Founded
4×
Award Winner
Major Event Coverage
The World's Most Demanding Stages.
Nelson Mandela's Funeral
Historic coverage of South Africa's most significant state funeral.
FIFA World Cup 2010
Broadcast production from South Africa's historic hosting of the world's biggest sporting event.
African Cup of Nations 2015
Multi-match tournament coverage across South African stadiums.
World Economic Forum, Davos 2014
International broadcast coverage from the global economic summit in Switzerland.
IOC Olympic Session
International Olympic Committee session production.
BRICS Summit
Summit coverage across heads-of-state sessions and press briefings.
COP 17
UN Climate Change Conference production, Durban.
Travel Indaba
Multi-year coverage of Africa's premier tourism investment event.
Awards & Recognition
Recognised by the Industry.
Vodacom Journalist of the Year
TV General News — KwaZulu-Natal
WinnerVodacom Journalist of the Year
TV General News — KwaZulu-Natal
WinnerVodacom Journalist of the Year
Sports — National & KZN
WinnerVodacom Journalist of the Year
TV General News — KwaZulu-Natal
WinnerSimon "Mabhunu" Sabela Film Awards
Film Award
FinalistCore Skills
Full-Spectrum Production Capability.
SACAA RPAS Pilot — Licensed Drone Cinematography
Adobe Creative Suite — Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition
DaVinci Resolve — Colour Grading & Online Finishing
Visual Composition & Perspective Design
Production Design & Lighting Architecture
Acoustics & Professional Audio
Set Control & Solo Operation
Multi-Camera Live Event Production
Gallery
Start a project with AVL.
Tell us what you're building. Xolani and the AVL team will respond within one business day.