Ikon Awards announce this year's fellows

The iKon Awards has unveiled the 10 young filmmakers set to participate in its Young Filmmakers Fellowship programme, slated to kick off in January 2024.

The list, announced on December 10, 2023, at the Media Challenge Initiative (MCI), includes Gerald Abongi, Brenda Aguti, Shabiru Sserunkuma, Paulina Ndagire, Rose Birungi, Douglas Ssemambo, Fred Nouah Kibirige, Silvester Douglas Okumu, Parton Musiimenta, and Rianne Lelia Bateeze.

While revealing the fellows, Humphrey Nabimanya, the founder of the iKon Awards, said  the fellowship aims to train young filmmakers, providing them with a platform to flourish. Following the training, each fellow will receive $500 (about sh1.9m) to produce a short film.

"We believe the future of the arts and entertainment in the country lies in us empowering the next generation of remarkable young storytellers. Our goal is identify emerging creative talent and provide them an opportunity to showcase their craft with the right mentorship and training," he said.

Nabimanya added that the fellowship programme also seeks to equip and nurture the next generation of creative talent, providing hands-on experience essential within the film and TV industry. He disclosed that the programme establishes a film fund to facilitate the fellows not only in producing short films but also feature films.

Among the fellows, Parton Musiimenta, Miss Ability Uganda, a young female filmmaker with a speech disability, expressed her aspirations through sign language. She aims to break disability barriers in the creative industry.

"Many of us are not given opportunities to showcase our talents, thinking that we may not deliver. I am happy to be considered for the programme, and I want to tell a story about what we go through," Musiimenta said.

In the previous year, the fellowship selected Kate Nafuna, Doreen Mirembe, Emmanuel Ochwo, Eunice Acan, Joan Hawah Nakanjako, Ediegu Joseph Innocent, Matilda Kavuma, and Ukasha Ssenyomo.

Doreen Mirembe, with her short film Mama Wange, emerged as the best, earning the opportunity to create a feature story valued at $20,000 (about sh76m).

Mirembe's short film has garnered numerous awards locally and internationally, attributing her success to the fellowship programme.

Funded by Reach A Hand Uganda and Sautiplus Media Hub in collaboration with various industry players, the fellowship announcement event was attended by notable filmmakers such as Allan Manzi, Ashiraf Mulima, Sadat Yiga, Tania Shakirah Kankindi, and others.