By Our Reporter
All roads will this Thursday lead to Theatre Labonita in Kampala where the hotly-billed Belgium-France-Uganda co-production film Papi is set to make its local premiere.
Speaking to this website in an exclusive interview on Monday, the film’s Belgian writer and director Kjell Clarysse said he was excited to bring the film back to Uganda following a successful run in Belgium mid last year.
“It’s a huge honour for me and my team to present the film to Ugandan audiences. We had such a fantastic time shooting here, and we hope everybody will get to appreciate the hard work the Ugandan cast and crew put in,” Clarysse said.
The 31-year-old documentary filmmaker and photographer is hopeful his debut feature film will open up doors for more Euro-African co-productions due its universal appeal and positive portrayal of Uganda.
Shot on location in Kampala, Brussels and Paris with a shoestring budget of $15,000 (about Shs 54.5m) back in 2015, the multilingual thriller revolves around its titular character Papi, a Congolese man who finds work as a boda boda rider in Kampala.
Papi’s life however turns upside down when he crosses paths with a troubled local woman and a mysterious European expat, triggering a series of gruesome events that will leave the viewer with a chill.
Congolese actor and fashionista Papy Tshifuaka leads the film’s ensemble cast in the titular role while Belgian film star Fredrik Declercq plays the villain. The duo is supported by a strong team of Ugandan actors including Rehema Nanfuka, Daniel Omara, Felix Bwanika, Wilberforce Mutete and TV personality Deedan Muyira.
Tickets to the premiere cost Shs20,000 and will be available at Theatre Labonita box office on the D-Day. Gates open at 7pm.