11th SOTAMBE Film Festival opens tonight with ‘On Becoming a Guinea Fowl ‘ by Rungano Nyoni

By Lifestyle Reporter

The 11th SOTAMBE Zambia International Film Festival opens today 20th September and will run through to the 28th September 2024 at Levy Cinemas (Levy Mall) in Lusaka, Zambia.

This year’s festival is under the theme: ‘One Punch at a Time – Celebrating the resilience of African Filmmakers.

The theme was inspired by the famous quote by Rocky Balboa: ‘One step at a time. One punch at a time. One round at a time.’

This year’s edition of the Festival changed its programming to allow filmmakers to participate in an exciting Q&A session and practical Film Labs and yet don’t get to miss out on any screenings.

Interested filmmakers can register here: https://bit.ly/FilmLabs.

Martina Mwanza, SOTAMBE Zambia International Film Festival Director also announces that the festival opens with a special screening of the feature, ‘On Becoming a Guinea Fowl.’

“Our biggest pride this year is hosting of a premiere of a Zambian feature film ‘On Becoming a Guinea Fowl’ by Rungano Nyoni as the opening film of the 11th edition of the Festival! “

She said Rungano is an icon inspiring the creative industry and that SOTAMBE are grateful to provide her with the platform for her homecoming.

Rungano Nyoni who won the Best Director in the Un Certain Regard Section at 77th Cannes Film Festival this year premiers for the first time in Zambia as it awaits the official release in USA this December.
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl is a feature film shot over the period of 5 years in Zambia with national cast and crew.
“As funeral proceedings begin around them, she and her cousins bring to light the buried secrets of their middle-class Zambian family.”
“This film represents more than just a personal vision—it stands as a testament to the potential of Zambian filmmaking on an international level. With the support of institutions like the Ministry and the National Arts Council, we have been able to showcase our talent globally, and now we bring that success back to where it all began,” said Rungano Nyoni in her press statement. “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Arts, as well as the National Arts Council of Zambia, for their unwavering support to help bring On Becoming a Guinea Fowl to life. This week, as we celebrate its premiere in Zambia at the SOTAMBE Zambia International Film Festival (ZAMIFF), this moment truly feels like a homecoming.”