Today, CEPIC are sharing the unfortunate news of Etienne van Den Heever's recent passing. His wonderful colleagues and friends have shared the following words to celebrate his life;
Etienne van Den Heever, co-founder of Greatstock, passed away at his home on 09th August 2024 after a brave battle with cancer.
An acclaimed director of photography and film director, Etienne was a pioneer in the South African creative and stock media industry. In 1983 he co-founded Mighty Good Movies as a production company producing TV and Cinema commercials. Iterations of this company would go on to become the first stock footage agency in Africa (Stock Options) and would later boast the continent’s first online searchable library (Greatstock). Over the last 40 years, these ventures have employed hundreds and launched several successful careers within the industry. A true testament to Etienne’s vision and leadership, and something that was a source of great pride.
Etienne always supported filmmakers. This led him to create the Stock Options collection which provided local filmmakers with access to international markets long before the advent of instant file transfers. The collection gained international acclaim and remains a valued resource for the industry today.
Etienne was a rare talent, equally comfortable behind a camera as he was holding a wrench or a pen. He loved to write - and wrote beautifully – a passion that saw him chair the South African Scriptwriters Association for a time. He was a gifted linguist and had the innate ability to pick up languages with ease. Anyone who spent some time with him was bound to learn a new word or two.
He will be remembered for his creative brilliance, his immense intellect, his wonderful sense of humour, his unwavering principles, and his kindness.
Above all, Etienne was a family man. He leaves behind his wife Margi, and children Sarah & Stephen, along with three grandchildren.
From all of us at CEPIC, we extend our deepest sympathies to Etienne's family during this difficult time. Etienne's unwavering support and invaluable contributions to CEPIC over the past 20+ years have been profoundly appreciated. He was a true champion of the industry and our company, and we are deeply saddened by this loss.