Biography

Tiaan van Niekerk is a writer, producer and director of multiple young adult novels, stage plays, short films and feature films.

Born in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, Tiaan grew up on a cattle farm next to the Arnot Power Station as the middle of three children. He finished primary school in 1997 as head boy of Rietkuil Primary.

From age 5, Tiaan took violin lessons from the Belfast Music Academy. He had to leave the music academy before finishing his Unisa Grade Levels, ending at Grade 5, when his family moved to Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, in 1998.

Remaining an avid musician and cultural performer, Tiaan took part in Vryheid High School's marching band, playing the Euphonium. He was also part of the Northern Natal Youth Choir from 2001-2002 as a Second Tenor.

From 2003-2008 Tiaan studied Theology at the University of Pretoria and was actively involved in the men's residence The Republic of Kollegetehuis (whose has in 2019 been renamed to simply "College"). From 2004-2005 he was the Executive Council member responsible for all cultural matters, including the quarterly paper, various singing contests and other cultural activities, as well as being the Vice-President during his term. During this time he acted as a featured extra on the Afrikaans teen comedy Bakgat! (2008) and realized the possibilities of telling filmic stories even if the budget is limited.

Tiaan did his final year dissertation on using film as a means to minister to local teenagers. It was during this time that he first got interested in adapting "Die Pro", a young adult novel by Leon de Villiers, into a feature film.

After finishing his theological studies, Tiaan went to work for The Walt Disney Company on board the Disney Wonder as a Youth Team member, but cut his tenure short to return to South Africa to work as a youth minister for two years. Tiaan then returned to Pretoria to obtain a Diploma in Film & TV Production.

During his film studies at Tshwane University of Technology (2011-2013) he annually received the award for Best Student in his year group. His fellow alumni include Marius O'Neill, Andrew Gould and Marius de Nysschen. He also worked as a dolly grip on Thomas@TV-reeks (2013), as a casting assistant on Ballade vir 'n Enkeling (2015) and as a Unit assistant on various other local productions.

After writing and producing the short films Ben se Begrafnis (2014) and Die Snelweg Sluiper (2015) and the feature film "Die Pro" (The Pro (2015)) from 2014-2016, Tiaan began lecturing at his Alma Mater in 2020.

He most recently wrote the screenplays for the made-for-TV kykNET Storiefilms Herleef (2023) and Drie Ja's en 'n Nee (Jan 2024)
- IMDb mini biography by: Tiaan van Niekerk