Mark J. Kaplan is a prominent South African documentary filmmaker, producer, and human rights activist. Born into a Jewish family in South Africa, his career has been deeply influenced by the anti-apartheid struggle and the subsequent processes of transitional justice, dedicating his work to documenting suppressed histories and political trauma through film.
Kaplan played a significant role in documenting the proceedings of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). One of his most renowned works is the documentary Between Joyce and Remembrance, which offers a profound exploration of the complexities of forgiveness and justice by tracing the journey of families of activists murdered by the apartheid regime. He has received numerous international accolades, including an Emmy Award for his role as a producer on The Lion’s Trail. His filmmaking style is characterized by rigorous political analysis and a delicate portrayal of victim dignity, making him a leading figure in contemporary South African political documentary.
As a long-standing member of South African Jews for a Free Palestine (SAJFP), Kaplan uses his lens to expose the parallels between Israeli occupation policies and the South African apartheid system.
He co-directed the controversial and impactful documentary “The Village Under the Forest” with Heidi Grunebaum, which reveals how the “South Africa Forest” in Israel actually conceals the remains of the destroyed Palestinian village of Lubya. He maintains that as a Jewish South African, he has a responsibility to expose this “erasure of another people’s history under the guise of charity.”