Ari Kruger is the director and co-writer of the comedy feature THE SHAKEDOWN (Amazon Prime, 2024) and a director on the crime drama series BAD INFLUENCER (Netflix, 2025). Kruger is the co-creator and director of the hugely popular web-series SUZELLE DIY which has garnered over 30 million views on YouTube and been broadcast nationally on Comedy Central. He is also the co-creator and director of the sensational mockumentary series TALI’S WEDDING DIARY which was awarded five South African Film & Television Awards, including Best Director for a Comedy Series. Both productions epitomise his impeccable comic timing and talent for creating memorable characters.
Ari has attracted notable attention with his short films, having been a finalist at the world’s largest short film festival Tropfest in 2011, in competition with the likes of filmmakers like Joel Edgerton. His films have screened in festivals across the globe with two of his short films having been selected as Vimeo Staff Picks. His latest short film WAITING FOR GOLDMAN is currently racking up awards on the festival circuit, winning Best Dark Comedy at IndieX Film Festival and Independent Short Awards in Los Angeles. Ari won best director for TALI’S BABY DIARY (the sequel to WEDDING DIARY) which also won Best Comedy series at the 2022 SAFTAS. The third installment of the hit series TALI’S JOBURG DIARY dropped on Showmax to critical acclaim and was awarded Best Comedy and Best Writing and Best Directing at the 2023 SAFTAs. Ari and his wife Julia Anastasopoulos are the co-owners of Sketchbook Studios, a production company in Cape Town where they produce original content, television series, features and commercials. Ari is a writer and director of original projects, and a director for hire.
Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie