Rungano Nyoni

Rungano Nyoni (born in Lusaka, Zambia; Lisbon and London-based) is a filmmaker whose highly original films inhabit spaces and characters rarely seen on screen, bringing them to life with humanity, nuance and wit. While she had initial aspirations to be an actor, Nyoni felt drawn to work behind the camera, eventually teaching herself how to make movies. Her film I Am Not a Witch (2017), about a young girl accused of witchcraft and cast out of her Zambian village, was nominated for a BAFTA and won several British Independent Film Awards, including Best Director. Her work transports viewers to alternate geographies, while also providing them with the tools to traverse these political, funny and often fable-like spaces. Rungano has made pioneering contributions to the industry as the first to present a Zambian film at Cannes, among other groundbreaking achievements that are inspiring a new generation of filmmakers.