By Our Reporter
The Uganda Film Festival, now in its the 12 edition, has announced nominees for this year’s festival gala. The announcement was made on Monday during a ceremony held at the Uganda Communication Commission offices in Bugolobi.
The festival has over the years celebrated the best of Ugandan cinema and television and in the process empowered a new age of storytellers which has been vivid with entries increasing from areas outside Kampala such as Gulu, Jinja, Mbarara and Arua.
This year, the festival received 362 entries and more than 330 of these were from local filmmakers. Unlike the past few years where a big number of entries were commissioned films mainly by MultiChoice Uganda, this year, none of the entries was a commissioned project, they were all independent.
“Filmmakers are more intentional about owning their voice and saying what they want in ways they know how, it’s mainly what we saw this year,” Julianne Mweheire, director economic regulations, content and consumer affairs at UCC said.
Hon. Nyombi Thembo, the executive director UCC said that this year, they are exploring different methods as they seek to find ways of building a sustainable audience, he said they are looking at engaging exhibitors at the grassroots such as bibandas as well as technology advanced streaming platforms.
This year, two films, Kimote, directed by Hassan Mageye and, Nkinzi, directed by Rehema Nanfuka dominated the nominations with 14 nods each. They are closely followed by Fatal, Speak and Two Paths.
Nkinzi is a children’s film about a young girl who runs away from home believing her parents don’t love her; ends up on the streets with another street child, Junior, who stays with his young sister. Nkinzi gives the awards their youngest nominees, Kisakye Passion and Myra Ariana Lubowa.
The other film to beat is Kimote by Hassan Mageye. It follows a young man whose quest to keep a cultural practise alive sees him face off against his father who is giving up on the craft. The craft in question is backcloth making; Kimote follows the legendary descendants of Kimote, the ancient chief from Buddu as they navigate a time where the purpose of a backcloth is changing.
It is an intentional film that easily sends its audience down the rabbit hole after watching; this film is strong in many technical areas such as costuming, makeup, cinematography and editing.
Philip Luswata, this year’s head jury says Ugandans have improved in many technical departments but are yet to tell a Ugandan story and neither do they know the color of Uganda. “At the moment we have mastered the art of making a basket but what do we put in the basket?” He noted.
This year, the Uganda Film Festival gala will be held on June 6, though film screenings in communities and cinemas will be kicking off earlier.
