Ten emerging filmmakers selected for the 2023/2024 Ikon Awards Young Filmmakers Fellowship Program were officially introduced during a ceremony at the Media Challenge Initiative in Kampala. In its second edition, the Fellowship aims to empower creative minds in the industry, offering a platform for storytelling and awareness creation around sexual and reproductive health and rights among young people.
The Fellowship provides participants with a comprehensive experience, including one-on-one sessions, webinars, online courses, and industry summits delivered by professionals in the film industry. In addition to the mentorship, each fellow receives a $500 grant to produce 5 – 10-minute short films centered on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) themes.
This year’s cohort includes Abongi Gerald, Aguti Brenda, Sserunkuma Shabiru, Ndagire Pauline, Birungi Rose, Ssemambo Douglas, Kibirige Fred Nouah, Musiimenta Parton, Okumu Silvester Douglas, and Rianne Lelia Bateeze.
Humphrey Nabimanya, the founder of the Ikon Awards, expressed excitement about the program, stating, “This is a platform that we are excited to pioneer because it empowers young creatives to tell stories that promote awareness, initiate constructive dialogue around, and highlight the various challenges related to the sexual and reproductive health and rights of the youth.”
Notable figures from the inaugural Fellowship, such as Doreen Mirembe, Kate Nafuna, Ochwo Emmanuel, Eunice Acan, Joan Hawah Nakanjako, Ediegu Joseph Innocent, Matilda Kavuma, and Ukasha Ssenyomo, were present at the unveiling ceremony.
The previous cohort benefited from Production Masterclasses by industry experts such as Chris Odeh, Mathew Nabwiso, and Benon Mugumbya, as well as visual storytelling masterclasses by Chris Chomyn, showcasing Uganda’s beauty through film by Edward Kagutuzi, a creative development masterclass by Arlo Laibowitz, and an acting masterclass by renowned Nigerian actor Ramsey Nouah.
Doreen Mirembe, a beneficiary from the inaugural Fellowship, shared her success story, citing her short film titled “Mama Wange,” which is currently being screened in Nigeria and France, earning numerous local and international nominations and awards. She attributed her achievements to the Ikon Fellowship and encouraged the new fellows to focus on their dreams, work hard, and believe in themselves.
The Ikon Awards Young Filmmakers Fellowship Program is an integral part of the broader Ikon Awards, a platform dedicated to recognizing and rewarding individuals driving positive change through film and television in Uganda and, ultimately, across Africa.