On Saturday 24th May 2024, Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) and UNESCO held a screening and awards ceremony for the short films created as part of the Ikon Awards Young Filmmakers Fellowship.
What is the IKON Awards Young Filmmakers Fellowship?
As part of Reach A Hand Uganda’s initiatives, SautiPlus Media Hub issued a call for aspiring filmmakers through its Young Filmmakers Breakthrough Program, offering a chance for passionate and emerging filmmakers to showcase their skills.
The Fellowship is a year-long program intended to skill young and upcoming filmmakers in several elements. These include screenwriting, directing, production and many more with a view to improving their ability to make impactful films.
What happened at the Ikon Fellowship 2024?
The second cohort of the fellowship consisted mainly of young aspiring filmmakers. The projects are majorly based on the root notions upheld by RAHU.
James K. Tumusiime Country director of Reach a hand Uganda (RAHU) was the first person invited to share a message and this is what he said, “RAHU is an organization that we started to help young people gain knowledge about their sexual and reproductive health. RAHU is there for young people and to share information to young people. Our films have a course of action and they have a story.”
A word from UNESCO at Ikon Fellowship 2024?
Charles Draecabo, the UNESCO national senior programs officer was the Chief guest at the Ikon Fellowship 2024.
He told the guests, “Happy to be here at the premier of the IKON young filmmakers event. We have an objective and a responsibility to ensure that young people remain safe sexually. The statistics of HIV are grappling in Uganda. Adolescents have very high rates of HIV because of limited access to health care, discrimination and lack of contraception.
As UNESCO we are choosing to use the power of film because it has a unique ability to educate. Traditionally, Africans love telling stories. But now the times have changed so we shall use film to tell stories. The film industry is one of the biggest employers in the world. He congratulated the young filmmakers whose films were going to be showcased at Ikon Fellowship 2024. This season has been inclusive even of people with disabilities. These are relatable stories which should help young people in Uganda easily learn about sexual health and safety in all aspects of life.”
Recognition of The 10 successful IKON fellowship films of 2024
Charles then went ahead to announce the first film written and acted by the ikon fellows of 2024.
Fellows were invited and their films were played just after they introduced them.
These films were consecutively announced and audience had an opportunity to watch each of them one by one.
1. Hasfa – by Douglas Ssemambo – is about gender inequality. We see a girl who has a job but is facing sexual harassment. At the same time her father wants her to get married.
2. Silent Tears – by Birungi Rose – is about a disabled woman who’s violently abused in marriage by a husband who is an alcoholic.
3. WURI – by Kibirige Fred – is about unity among different tribes and HIV awareness. It shows how some parents root for hatred for people who have HIV.
4. Teen Me – by Ndagire Pauline – is about a teenage girl who was sexually molested by her father. She eventually loses her uterus.
5. Deep waters – by Aguti Brenda – is about our capacity to rise above the difficulties we face. They also portray drug abuse consequences.
6. Wrong Choice – by Sserunkuma Shabiru – is about a girl who gets pregnant by a young man and they choose abortion. The consequences get so dramatic.
7. The choices we make – by Musiimenta Parton – is about a deaf girl who got pregnant and the boy ran away from her and shifted but she ends up with a good man.
8. Ward 4 1998 – by Rianne Bateeze – is about HIV adherence and consequences of not taking medication
9. The Janitor – by Okumu Sylvester Douglas – is about a mother whose daughter slit her wrist and bled to death. The mother struggles until she avenged her daughter’s death.
10. Ethania – by Abongi Gerald – is about a couple which deeply falls in love and it even shows them kissing. Her boyfriend releases a video of them making love on social media and she loses her dignity at school. However the mum accepted her and even gave her condoms. She used AI and passed her exams.
Comments from some of the members of Ikon Fellowship 2024
Journey has been wonderful. The overall experience was exciting
Unknown
I have realized that we can. We can tell stories. I am so impressed by the Ikon Fellowship 2024!
Unknown
Certification of Successful IKON Creators of the 2024 Films
The Country director of RAHU was invited again to announce the certificates for all the fellows. He said, “Ugandans had lost hope in the film industry, but here we are!”
Matilda, the IKON fellow of 2023 also was there to give certificates. At some point, Matilda left then Daphne took over.
Members of the Ikon Fellowship 2024 Awards
- Musiimenta Parton
- Ndagire Pauline
- Sserunkuma Shabiru
- Birungi Rose
- Kibirige Fred
- Ssemambo Douglas
- Aguti Brenda
- Abongi Gerald
- Okumu Sylvester Douglas
- Ryenna Bateeze
Major Announcements from Humphrey Nabimanya during the Ikon Fellowship 2024
Humphrey Nabimanya, the executive producer of all the IKON fellowship films, appreciated the guests for being patient. “We have achieved young people who are telling stories and changing lives” He thanked UNESCO, Light for the world, NEXT Media, ATS events and the filmmakers themselves. Reach a hand, SAUTI, Uncle mark, Ramsey Nouah films
Humphrey added, “Our partners from Nigeria specially Ramsey Nouah Films have sponsored the winner of the IKON fellowship program for a fully paid trip to Nigeria. The winner of the viewers choice award will also have a trip to Nigeria.” He also said that the winner of ikon pitch Isa Masadde won $500 and go to Nigeria
Points to take from speech
- “A billion young people that will make a change in the world for a better tomorrow. That is the goal of Ikon Fellowship 2024 ” – Humphrey Nabimanya
- UNESCO has sponsored members of Ikon Fellowship 2024 to go to all universities and educate people about the movies
- Humphrey Nabimanya has been chosen for the Mandela fellowship program in USA
- Usama Mukwaya has been with IKON since 2022 as a producer and was requested to continue by Humphrey Nabimanya.
Notable points from Usama Mukwaya
During his speech, Usama made these points:
“Employ these young fellows after watching their films. Ikon Fellowship 2024 has given them not only the production but all the basic skills to exist with other people. These include communication, humility and many more.
Usama Mukwaya
Qualities we look out for are not the same that viewers seek. You want a story you relate to or that helps you overcome a challenge. Meanwhile, we experts look out for some particular values. These include Storytelling, discipline, communication and many more.”
Usama Mukwaya
Who were the winners of Ikon Fellowship 2024?
The viewers choice award was won by Bitungi Rose who produced SILENT TEARS
Finally, the Ikon fellowship filmmaker of the year 2024 is Ndagire Pauline who produced TEEN ME
What is RAHU?
RAHU, established in 2011, is a youth-focused organization dedicated to empowering young people through programs centered on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, as well as livelihoods and skills development. Its goal is to amplify the voices of youth in both rural and urban areas of Uganda, enabling them to actively engage in processes that contribute to their socioeconomic well-being and equipping them with the knowledge to make informed decisions. With a decade of experience working across diverse social, cultural, and economic backgrounds, RAHU recognizes the importance of placing young people at the forefront as advocates who can effectively participate at local, national, and international levels to ensure the realization of their rights. RAHU is one of the main partners involved in organising the Ikon Fellowship 2024.
What is Sauti-Plus Media Hub?
The Sauti-Plus Media Hub operates as a comprehensive agency within Reach A Hand Uganda, focusing on nurturing youth-centric brands. Through the innovative use of Edutainment, particularly in short and feature films, it aims to empower young individuals locally and globally. This approach leverages the popularity of film media, which resonates deeply with Uganda’s youth, including those in remote areas. By crafting films with tailored messages on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), the hub effectively engages its target audience.
Ikon Fellowship 2024 for Young Filmmakers
RAHU believes in nurturing the future of arts and entertainment by empowering the next generation of talented young storytellers. As part of Reach A Hand Uganda’s initiatives, SautiPlus Media Hub issued a call for aspiring filmmakers through its Young Filmmakers Breakthrough Program, offering a chance for passionate and emerging filmmakers to showcase their skills.
