Think back to the last time you sat in a cinema, the lights went down, the screen came alive, and for the next two hours, the outside world disappeared. Cinemas have been part of the country's social and cultural landscape for generations.

But South Africa's cinema history is also a complicated one. During apartheid, segregation shaped where people could watch films, who had access to certain spaces, and which stories reached audiences.

Today, cinema remains a powerful space for storytelling -  reflecting our languages, cultures, communities and experiences. We are in conversation with Film Reviewer and Media Entrepreneur, Promise Dudu as we ask Where South Africa's cinema journey began, how did it change with the country, and what memories are still sitting in those empty seats?