By Our Reporter
Unheard, the critically acclaimed Ugandan film about a young mother’s defiant struggle against entrenched cultural traditions in a remote fishing village in rural southwestern Uganda, has been nominated for the Best Feature Narrative award at this year’s Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) to be held February in Los Angeles, USA.
The film is scheduled to screen on February 12th and 16th at the Culver Theatre in Culver City as part of the festival’s strong 200-title lineup of films selected from across the world.
The selection and nomination marks yet another milestone in the film’s impressive journey since premiering to rave reception in Kampala back in October 2023. The film would go on to dominate the 2024 iKon Film & Television awards, taking home a total of seven accolades including for Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress.
It has since screened at ten international film festivals and participated in awards programs worldwide, the latest being the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) where it was nominated for the prestigious Oumane Sembène award for Best Film in an African Language.
Reacting to news of the film’s latest achievement, writer and producer Polly Kamukama said he could not have dreamt of a bigger platform to debut his film in the US.
“It’s a huge honour to be selected let alone be nominated at such a prestigious festival like PAFF. My team and I are more than excited for this opportunity to showcase Uganda’s filmmaking potential to the world,” said Kamukama.
He added that the fact his film continues to scale global heights against all odds is proof that with a little support Ugandan filmmakers are capable of producing compelling works that authentically represent our identity and challenges.
Set against the backdrop of Kabale’s picturesque landscapes and the vibrant Bakiga culture, “Unheard” is directed by Joseph Ssebaggala and stars actress Jackline Katusiime in the lead role as Grace, a recently widowed mother who stuns her conservative community by launching an extraordinary bid to inherit her late husband’s fishing boat.
The feature film, the first of its kind in the local Rukiga dialect, is a pioneer beneficiary of the Content Development Support Programme (CDSP), a film funding facility launched by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) in 2021.
It has been roundly praised for its authentic portrayal of an African community at a crossroads with modernity and tradition, along with its bold storytelling approach, strong social themes and realistic performances.
Now in its 33rd year running, PAFF is the largest Black film and arts showcase in America. It was founded in 1992 by Hollywood icons Danny Glover, the late Ja’Net DuBois and Ayuko Babu, and has grown to become a beacon for showcasing Black narratives from across the globe.This year, the festival will feature over 200 films from 40 countries, celebrating the richness and diversity of Pan-African cultures under the theme “Dream Beyond”.
