Bruce is a South African producer, screenwriter and director with a background in both film and television. He began his career as an actor, first in South Africa and then the USA before transitioning into production in Los Angeles.
After returning to South Africa, he established himself as a screenwriter. His directorial debut, the documentary Blood Lions, received international acclaim after being acquired by Discovery and later streaming on Netflix. The film is part of a global initiative aimed at ending canned lion hunting in South Africa.
In 2019, Young directed Eye of the Pangolin, a documentary focused on raising awareness about pangolin trafficking, which has amassed over 432,000 views on YouTube.
He next executive produced Pangolin - Journey to Freedom for Silver Bullet Films and Terra Mater Studios. This feature doc will be released on WNET Nature, the PBS affiliate in the US in early 2026. It won a Panda Award for Sustainable Filmmaking at Wild Screen in 2025.
He believes in the transformative power of storytelling in film, asserting that narratives shape our understanding of the world. Young prioritizes clear communication and responsible leadership in all his projects, fostering collaboration and respect among team members.
After spending over a decade in the U.S. film industry, Young is now based in Cape Town. He is passionate about outdoor activities, viewing them as essential to balancing the fast-paced demands of the film industry. His commitment to impactful storytelling continues to drive his work, as he seeks to engage audiences with compelling narratives that enlighten and inspire.
Experience
• Executive Producer - Pangolin - Journey to Freedom (2026)
• Director|Writer - Scales - The Tipping Point (2025)
• Producer|Director|Writer – Eye Of The Pangolin (2019)
• Producer|Director – Biggestleaf Media (2016-2020)
• Co-director|Writer – Blood Lions (Regulus Vision) – 2015
• Head-writer: Ring Of Lies – Penguin Films (Mzansi Magic) – 2015
• Writer: Endgame – Fireworx Media (SABC) – 2013
• Head-writer: drama series, League of Glory – Waterfront TV (2010) – MNet
• Writer: award-winning wildlife documentary script Kalahari Tails (2009) – NHU
Africa
• Story-liner: award-winning series, Sokhulu & Partners – Penguin (2007) – SABC
• Documentary film: writer on Camp Raiders (2010), Dombe Dream (2009), Ghosts of
the Knysna Forest (2008) – NHU Africa
• Writer: feature films – Surface (2012), My Other Mother (2010), Karoo Boy (2008), Such Eyes (2004), Silence of the Wooden O (2002)
• Writer: short films – Eezie’s Tears (2008), Some Mother’s Sons (2007) Bruce Young – Bio
• Teacher: screenwriting, acting for camera and production modules – AFDA, City Varsity, ACT Cape Town.
• Production Manager: feature films/TVC/documentaries in SA/USA
• Assistant Director: feature films/TVC in USA
• Actor: theatre in SA; film/TV in USA – General Hospital (1991), Lethal Weapon 2
(1989), Slaves of New York (1988)
