David Pupkewitz is a film producer and educator with an extensive career in international cinema. He is the founder and director of Focus Films Ltd, a UK-based development, production, and financing company that has produced a range of theatrical motion pictures since 1995. Notable credits include The 51st State starring Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Carlyle, and Master Harold…and the Boys with Freddie Highmore and Ving Rhames.

David was born in Windhoek, Namibia in 1951. He holds a Bachelor of Business Science (Hons) from the University of Cape Town and a BA in Philosophy (Hons) from University College London. Prior to his full-time involvement in film production, he was Managing Director of a group of financial services companies until 1995.

Focus Films has produced features across multiple genres, including Crimetime, Secret Society, Formula 51, The Bone Snatcher, Chemical Wedding, Triomf, and Surviving Evil. He has also produced acclaimed television work, such as Othello (directed by Janet Suzman), and documentaries including Via Namibia and Woman of Tu-Ban.

Since returning to South Africa in 2011, David joined CityVarsity Cape Town in 2013 as a Senior Lecturer in the Film and Television Department. He devised and lectured the major elective module ‘Producing – The Business of Film’ until 2024.