USIU student wins cash prize, mentorship opportunity at international film workshop
SP
Collins Akunga, a BA Film Production and Directing Major is the prize winner of a grant at the just concluded 2nd edition of the Great Lakes Creative Producers Film Lab. The cash prize comes with production mentorship at the studios. Collins’ film project entitled ‘Pwagu’ was selected by Federation Studios, a multinational film firm with headquarters in Paris, France and heavy presence in USA, UK, Spain, Italy, Israel among others.
Two USIU-Africa students took part in the workshop; Collins Akunga and Sofia Namuye (also a BA Film Production and Directing) made it to the list this year. Pwagu is about a young lady who poses as a call girl to rob her clients but one day gets an agoraphobic client who takes her hostage. Sofia’s project at the workshop began as an animated tale about the legendary Lwanda Magere but later turned into a live action drama.
The annual five-day workshop brings together film producers and directors from the Great Lakes region for a hands-on mentorship and training workshop on creative producing. Creative producers are scarce and far between, and the gap between the creative team and the production departments can be uncomfortable, even counterproductive for a film project. This annual workshop was initiated to fill this gap. This year’s workshop brought together 10 participants from Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.
While accepting the award, Collins was grateful to receive this once in a lifetime opportunity saying, “I want to thank you for the opportunity to attend the workshop. I feel that I’m now a better filmmaker and I learnt so much.” About winning the award, he said: “I am really excited for what the future holds due to this award.” Sofia, on her part said: “attending this workshop has left me a totally different person and put me on another level in my film career.”
Collins directed his first film in 2018 titled ‘Mad Love’ which won best Cinematography, and Best Students’ short Film in the Eldoret Film Festival and the 72 Hrs Film Series respectively.
Do you love solving puzzles?
Join our community and solve the Puzzling fun with our range of crosswords
close
Unleash Your Inner Detective!
We are building some fun puzzles to put your problem-solving skills to the test and we want you to have a blast while you're at it!
Share your email and we’ll serve up new puzzles with your morning coffee.
Do you want to help shape the features we prioritize? Take a Survey to help us understand what matters to you most
Business Redefined is Kenya’s premier thought leadership platform for unpacking matters regarding economic and finance policy as well demystifying complex developments in the region’s capital markets.
This is Daily Politics. Here we look into the ins and outs of everything Kenyan politics. We pull no punches and have no reason to sugarcoat anything that matters to Kenyans.
Gumzo La Sato is a live social issues show that aims to create awareness about issues affecting the larger society. The discussions range from Parenting, Marital bliss and struggles, Oppression, violence, and all matters of the Heart.
Health Diary is a weekly show that highlights different types of diseases/conditions and seeks ways to prevent, treat/manage them. The show debunks this through real life stories and also feature specialists in different fields, to offer medical advice on the same.
Letter To My Younger Self is a podcast where guests get to write a letter to their younger self, from which Maxine formulates questions to ask them during the hour-long show.
Nation Reports is a weekly podcast offers an opportunity for listeners to interact with various reporters and journey with them as they unravel the biggest most emotive stories.
Speaking of Gen Z brings you entertaining but meaningful conversations about a generation that is trying to navigate through adulthood. Join hosts Michelle, Jackie and Esther as they unravel all things Gen Z.
Sport-On is a 30-minute sports magazine show on NTV and 3 hours on NATION FM. The show seeks to give the sports “fanatics” and “funatics” comprehensive and in-depth coverage of sports both locally and internationally.
A two-hour-long live show that airs on Fridays. The show focuses on what is current in the entertainment industry, controversial and popular across all media platforms targeting those aged between 25 and 35 years.
The Wicked Edition with Dr. King’ori seeks to address serious issues through humour and relatable wit. It is a two-part half hour show filmed in front of a live audience
Twende is a travel show that highlights beautiful, unique, diverse locations, people, and cultures. The show offers fresh perspectives on familiar locations and memorable experiences in new ones.
This Saturday evening lifestyle show lets viewers share their stories and life experiences as openly & honestly for the purpose of shifting the culture of silence.
VIP ACCESS is Anyiko Owoko’s YouTube and podcast show on Music and Culture dedicated to promoting Africa’s most promising talent and creatives. This podcast grants you VIP access into timeless interviews while providing a platform for rising as well as established artists across the continent. Since launching in 2018, Anyiko has interviewed over 70 African music stars.
This weekly news show aims to have all sides of debate but not be constrained by it, listen to main voices in the contest but not allow them to hold the viewers hostage, entertain debate but allow push back with all due respect.
In this podcast, three widowers openly speak about the process of grief, how they found themselves exposed to the emotional turmoil of losing their wives, and how society still does not know how to deal with them.
Your World is a health, wellness and variety show. It provides a platform for audiences and experts to share their experiences on how to improve or manage health issues, across Kenya and the Africa region.