This year he’s transitioned into a feature film lead, with roles in John Trengrove’s feature version of Hopeville, Jahmil Qubeka’s A Small Town Called Descent, and Khalo Matabane’s State of Violence, which recently opened The Durban International Film Festival.   

In State of Violence, Fana plays the lead role of Bobedi, a man hell-bent on avenging the death of his wife. He stars opposite Tsotsi’s Presley Chweneyagae, who plays his brother.

The director praises Fana’s role in the film. Khalo says working with actors is always difficult “but there is nothing better than seeing actors like Fana or Presley give you a great performance. They always seem to pull something out of the bag and that just makes things a little easier on you as a director.”

Fana also stars in Hopeville, which opens on 3 September 2010. It couldn’t be more different to State of Violence. The film tells the story of a reformed alcoholic on a mission to build a relationship with his estranged son.

Fana plays a corrupt town cop who learns to take responsibility for his actions as the drama unfolds. He stars opposite another Tsotsi alumni, Terry Pheto.

His role in A Small Town Called Descent is similar, as he shines again playing a corrupt small town cop, who maybe learns fewer lessons than in Hopeville.

His film career includes supporting roles in the Academy Award-nominated film, Hotel Rwanda, directed by Terry George, and Blood Diamond, directed by Edward Zwick.

He’s also starred in Yizo Yizo and the current season of Soul City.