Usama Mukwaya
| Usama Mukwaya | |
|---|---|
 Usama at the premiere of Bala Bala Sese in 2015 | |
| Born |
Usama Mukwaya Nyanzi 12 December 1989 Mulago, Kampala, Uganda |
| Nationality | Ugandan |
| Alma mater | Makerere University (DIT) |
| Occupation | Screenwriter, film director, actor, tv personality |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Website |
usamamukwaya |
Usama (/ʊˈsɑːmə/) "Osam" Mukwaya Nyanzi (born 12 December 1989) is a Ugandan film director, screenwriter, producer, actor and television host. He broke through his writing career with his short film Hello that won overall best film in the 2010 MNFPAC students' awards. His other film credits include Bala Bala Sese, his latest film as a writer and producer directed by Lukyamuzi Bashir.[1]
Early life
Born in Mulago Hospital, Kampala-Uganda, Usama hails his ancestry from Ganda, Ankole and Rwanda. He is the son of Abdullah Muhammad Mukwaya and Aziidah Mariam. After the death of his mother when he was 8, Usama's aunt took him in; when she died too, Usama had to move in with his father and later on with his grandfather.[2]
He attended Linnet Primary School in Wakiso District, for his Primary school education, Shuhada'e Islamic Secondary School in Mbarara for his O level, Nyamitanga Secondary School for his A level and achieved a Diploma in Information technology at Makerere University under the Cisco Career Certifications . He has numerous siblings from both his father and mother.[1]
Career
Film
Usama started his writing career as a child. In 2010 he joined Dan Kiggundu's Maryland Productions where he debuted as a script editor and supporting actor in the TV drama Pain of lies that premiered in 2011.[1] Through Uganda film network, he later joined Mariam Ndagire Film and Performing Arts Center where he worked on his first short film, Hello[3] which won the overall best film in the MNFPAC awards 2010. In July 2011, he then made it to the final selection of the 12 screenwriters from all over East Africa to participate in the 7th Maisha Film Lab ending up with a collaboration with Diana Karua in the making of the movie She Likes Prada.[1]
Later in 2011, Usama won the African Young Achievers Award[4][5] in the film and television category, the youngest among the winners to win the award in the newly introduced category alongside Rwandan president Paul Kagame, who won the Lifetime achievement award.[6]
Kinna-Uganda (Ugandan film) has something to do with mediocrity. We should follow the trends of other industries like Hollywood, Bollywood and Nollywood; let us call our industry Ugawood.
Amidst other four young directors in August 2012, he directed his first film, Smart Attempt written by Julian Nabunya and Abel Mwesigwa during the first season of the Movie Furnace programme. He went on to participate in the program's second season with his short film In Just Hours that had him emerge the season's winner for best short film director.[8][9][10] He has worked as a general secretary and treasurer Screenwriter’s guild of Uganda Film Network and as general secretary Pearl International Film Festival.[1][11] He was quoted by The Observer Newspaper alongside Ashraf Ssemwogerere on an interview about naming the growing film industry in Uganda where he stated that Ugawood could have been the appropriate citing that Kinna-Uganda had to do with mediocrity.[7] In July 2014, Usama started his own film production company O Studios, based in Uganda that immediately opened with the production of a short film Tiktok written and directed by himself.[12] His debut feature film Bala Bala Sese premiered on 3 July 2015.[13]
Television
In July 2013, Usama debuted his television appearance as a host on the second season of the Movie Digest Show on Record TV Network Uganda with actress Monica Birwinyo replacing pioneer host and former Tusker Project Fame 3 contestant Jacob Nsaali.[14]
Legacy
Usama is credited to be the co-founder of Pearl International Film Festival alongside Magezi Moses. The first of its kind indigenous film festival aims to draw attention to raise the profile of local films and filmmakers with the aim of contributing towards the development of Cinema of Uganda.[15] He is also the founder and C.E.O of O Studios.
Personal life
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Iron Love | Actor | Official selection: Pearl International Film Festival |
| 2010 | Pain of Lies | Actor, Script Supervisor | Official selection: Pearl International Film Festival |
| 2010 | Hello | Writer, First Assistant Director | Nominated for – MNFPAC Awards for Best screenplay |
| 2011 | She Likes Prada | Production Manager | Official selection: Zanzibar International Film Festival |
| 2012 | Smart Attempt | Director | Movie Furnace 2012 finalist |
| 2013 | In Just Hours | Writer, director | Best Director – Short Film: Movie Furnace 2013
Official selection: 2nd Nile Diaspora International Film Festival[16][17] Nominee – Best Student Film: Pearl International Film Festival (MNFPAC) Official selection: 4th Manya Human Rights International Film Festival[18] |
| 2012-2013 | Movie Digest Show | Host, Producer | |
| 2015 | Tiktok | Writer, Director | Official selection: Mashariki African Film Festival[19] |
| 2015 | Bala Bala Sese | Writer, producer | Official selection: Luxor African Film Festival[20][21] |
| 2016 | Rehema | Writer, producer | |
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Kamukama, Polly (12 April 2012). "The Observer – Mukwaya, the self made filmmaker". Observer.ug. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- 1 2 [www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18171:mukwaya-the-self-made-filmmaker www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18171:mukwaya-the-self-made-filmmaker] Check
|url=It affected me so much having to adapt to different parenting environments.
Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ http://www.amakula.com/archive.html
- ↑ "Young Achievers Awards Uganda – Rewarding Innovation and Excellence". Youngachievers.ug. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ↑ http://africayoungachievers.com/previous-awards/
- ↑ "The Achiever Magazine 2011". Youngachievers.ug. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- 1 2 "The Observer – Ugawood or Kinna-Uganda? Film stars split over name". Observer.ug. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ↑ http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26544:mukwaya-wins-film-contest&catid=42:sizzling-entertainment&Itemid=74
- ↑ http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/Nurturing+local+film+talent/-/691232/1453272/-/rbt9ge/-/index.html
- ↑ http://www.stage32.com/profile/42754/julian-nabunya
- ↑ http://www.pearlinternationalfilmfestival.com/index.php/2011-07-07-21-08-18
- ↑ http://ugscreen.net/uganda-movie-news/usama-starts-own-studio
- ↑ http://www.theinsider.ug/ex-ebonies-rushabiro-sways-audience-in-aids-film/
- ↑ http://ugscreen.net/television/movie-digest-show
- ↑ http://www.moviemarkers.net/news/winners-for-kenyas-annual-pearl-international-film-festival-piff-announced/
- ↑ http://www.ndiffest.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/NDIFF-selection.pdf
- ↑ http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29017:diaspora-film-festival-is-back&catid=42:sizzling-entertainment&Itemid=74
- ↑ http://www.manya.org.ug/files/Brief%20Film%20Program%202013.pdf
- ↑ http://maaff.net/index.php/component/content/article/1-latest-news/904-list-of-films
- ↑ http://www.theinsider.ug/ugandan-films-vie-for-4000-prize-at-luxor-festival/
- ↑ http://www.observer.ug/lifestyle/42-entertainment/42547-ugandan-films-for-international-festivals/
External links
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