Rian Craig Johnson is an American filmmaker. He made his directorial debut with the neo-noir mystery film Brick (2005), which received positive reviews and grossed nearly $4 million on a $450,000 budget. Transitioning to higher-profile films, Johnson achieved mainstream recognition for writing and directing the science-fiction thriller Looper (2012) to critical and commercial success. Johnson landed his largest project when he wrote and directed the space opera Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), which grossed over $1 billion. He returned to the mystery genre with Knives Out (2019) and its sequel Glass Onion (2022), both of which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay, respectively.
Triggerfish is a computer animation film studio based in Cape Town, South Africa and Galway, Ireland. The studio is best known for its animated feature films Adventures in Zambezia (2012), Khumba (2013), and Seal Team (2021), as well as the work they have done on television specials created for UK producers Magic Light Pictures. In 2016, Stick Man was awarded the Cristal for best TV production at the Annecy International Animation Festival. In 2017, Revolting Rhymes again won the Cristal for best TV production at the Annecy Festival, and was nominated for the Best Short Film (Animated) Oscar at the 2018 Academy Awards. In 2019, Netflix announced that Triggerfish would produce its first African animated TV series. In 2020, Zog won the International Emmy for Best Kids Animation. In 2021, The Snail and The Whale won Best Special Production at The Annie Awards, while Triggerfish received the Mifa Animation Industry Award at Annecy for "the pioneering role that the company has played in animation in South Africa, and Africa most widely.” In 2022, their third film, Seal Team, made the Netflix Top 10 Films global list for its launch week.
Usama "Osam" Nyanzi Mukwaya is a Ugandan screenwriter, film director, producer, actor and former television host. He has received several accolades, including nominations for an Ama Award and three Amvca Awards.
Natasha Sinayobye is a Ugandan actress, model, singer and dancer. She debuted as a lead actress in the Ugandan film Bala Bala Sese alongside her boyfriend back then Michael Kasaija. She acted as Kaitesi Munyana in Nana Kagga's TV Series, Beneath The Lies - The Series.
Bala Bala Sese is a Ugandan film directed by Lukyamuzi Bashir based upon a screenplay by Usama Mukwaya, starring Michael Kasaija, Natasha Sinayobye, Raymond Rushabiro, Ismael Ssesanga, Fiona Birungi, Ashraf Ssemwogerere and Ddungu Jabal. It's the director's, writer's and producers' debut feature film.
Tiktok is a 2015 Ugandan silent short film written and directed by Usama Mukwaya. The movie features single actor Patriq Nkakalukanyi as Sam. It is Usama's first film under his film company O Studios Entertainment and is his first film as a writer, director and producer. The film premiered at the inaugural Mashariki African Film Festival and received a nomination for best short film.
Beneath The Lies is a Ugandan television drama-mystery series created by Nana Kagga Macpherson and starring Flavia Tumusiime, Natasha Sinayobye, Gaetano Kagwa, Hellen Lukoma, Rabadaba, Deedan Muyira, Cedric Babu Ndilima, Patrick Salvado Idringi and Susan Naava as regular cast members. The series was directed by Joseph Kitsha Kyasi and Tosh Gitonga. It was originally produced by Savannah MOON Productions, and Kinetic Media Group before all production was taken over by 40Plus Productions, a production house co-owned by Nana Kagga and Cedric Babu Ndilima. It airs on Sundays at 9:30 p.m. EAT, on New Vision Group's Urban TV Uganda.
Michael Wawuyo Jr. is a Ugandan actor that started out as Brother John in Ugandan hit television series The Hostel on NTV. His credits include also Beneath The Lies - The Series,Yat Madit, Kyenvu, Nsiwe, Girl in the yellow jumper and most recently sixteen rounds.
Love Faces is a Ugandan drama thriller film written and directed by Usama Mukwaya. It is Mukwaya's feature film directorial debut, and stars Laura Kahunde, Moses Kiboneka Jr., Patriq Nkakalukanyi and Salome Elizabeth in leading roles. The film had a special screening on 31 August 2017 at the Uganda Film Festival 2017. It had its official release on 4 January 2018.
A Dog Story is a Ugandan short film about Atim, a young woman who tries to escape from her abductor Bongwat and comes face to face with the reality of what it means to be an abductee, and the consequences of requiting his love. It was produced by actress and dental assistant Doreen Mirembe as her debut production.
Kyenvu is a 2018 Ugandan short film written, produced and directed by Kemiyondo Coutinho and starring still Kemiyondo Coutinho, Michael Wawuyo Jr. in lead roles and supported by Rehema Nanfuka, Joel Okuyo Atiku, Alex Bwanika, Bash Luks and others. The film is Kemiyondo Coutinho’s directorial and production début and won the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF)’s Best Narrative Short Film.
Bed of Thorns (#Tosirika) is a Ugandan, all-female crew produced drama film directed and produced by Eleanor Nabwiso under the Nabwiso Films banner. The film addresses the issue of gender-based and domestic violence. It stars media personality Malaika Tenshi Nnyanzi, Diana Kahunde, youtuber and social media comedian Martha Kay, Agnes Kebirungi, Michael Wawuyo Jr., Housen Mushema, Sara Kisawuzi and Patrick Salvador Idringi. The film premiered on 30 March 2019 at a red carpet event at Century Cinema Kamwokya, Kampala.
Kyaddala is a Ugandan drama television series by Reach a Hand Uganda. The first season was produced by Emmanuel Ikubese Films and Reach a Hand Uganda. Set in a present day high school life, Kyaddala a Luganda word for "It's Real", focuses on real life social issues that affect young people across Africa and their attempts to overcome those issues. The series features actors and actresses from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Nigeria. Kyaddala premiered on 27 September 2019 at Kingdom Kampala.
Veronica Waceke is a Kenyan actress. She first appeared in the 2015 film Fundi-Mentals. For her performance in the film My Faith, Waceke won the Best East African Female Actress award at the Mashariki Film Festival. She portrayed Lesedi in the Kenya National Theatre's production of Walter Sitati's play; Necessary Madness 2 and Deliberate Contempt in 2019. Waceke was nominated for the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Award for the Best Actress in a television drama series 'Higher Learning'.
Bella is a Ugandan drama film directed by Matt Bish and stars Cinderella Sanyu in her debut film acting role as Bella. It also stars Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga, Matthew Nabwiso, Simon Base Kalema, Roger Mugisha, Stellah Nantumbwe, Joel Okuyo Atiku, Michael Wawuyo Jr. The film premiered at Victoria Hall, Kampala Serena Hotel in October 2017.
The Girl in the Yellow Jumper is a Ugandan mystery-thriller produced and directed by Loukman Ali. It was announced that the film would premiere in Kampala on 18 April 2020. It follows a man who escapes a hostage situation only to find himself in deeper trouble. It stars Rehema Nanfuka, Philip Luswata, Michael Wawuyo Jr., Michael Wawuyo, Oyenbot and Maurice Kirya.
The Blind Date is a 2021 Ugandan film written and directed by Loukman Ali starring Martha Kay, Michael Wawuyo Jr. and Raymond Rushabiro. The short film marks the second collaboration between Usama Mukwaya and Loukman Ali after Kyaddala TV Series which was released in 2019. The Blind Date is the first of the numerous episodes meant to make an anthology, with the follow-up episode already in the making. The film won Best short film at the 8th Uganda Film Festival awards. It had its African premiere at the 24th Zanzibar International Film Festival.
Loukman Ali is a Ugandan cinematographer, screenwriter, film director, producer and graphic designer. His directorial debut was Monday followed up by The Bad Mexican, released in 2017.The film was nominated in various festival including the Amakula International film festival. His other major films include The Girl in the Yellow Jumper, The Blind Date and Sixteen Rounds. He is known to frequently working with actor Michael Wawuyo Jr. and filmmaker Usama Mukwaya.
Mashariki Africa Film Festival (MAFF) is a Rwandan-based film event that highlights and awards films by Africans and African diaspora. The word 'Mashariki' means 'East' in Kiswahili. The first edition of the festival was in 2015.
