Biography

Alex Yazbek is a South African writer/director whose work spans high end television drama and globally distributed features. He is known for tense, character driven thrillers and grounded ensemble storytelling, with recent signature projects including the Showmax psychological drama Dam and the Netflix revenge thriller 180. Dam has been one of Showmax’s most successful originals, a top ten title in 2021 and the most nominated drama at the 2022 SAFTAs, while 180 opened as a dominant Netflix title in April 2026, reaching number 1 in 60 countries. Across credits such as The Wild, Uzalo, Isibaya and Hi Rollers, Yazbek has built a track record for series direction and award winning broadcast drama, winning multiple SAFTAs for Best Director. The combined impact of Dam and 180 has shifted him from South African mainstay to global breakout, bringing his work into the wider trade conversation around South Africa’s current production wave and positioning him as a key voice in international thriller filmmaking.
- IMDb mini biography by: Jutta Berns