Multi-award-winning Ugandan film “Unheard” is set to expand its trophy cabinet heading into this year’s Pearl International Film Festival (PIFF) awards as the dominant frontrunner after scooping 12 nominations.
The Rukiga language film will be vying for top prizes, including Best Feature Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay, when the 12th edition of Uganda’s longest surviving cinema showpiece wraps up in a glamorous awards ceremony on November 28 at Theatre Labonita in Kampala.
The film, a gripping tale of one woman’s courageous struggle against entrenched cultural beliefs in a remote fishing community in rural southwestern Uganda, is also in contention for the Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Sound Design and Best Cinematography awards, among others.
Produced with the support of a UGX 150 million grant from the government, “Unheard” has courted global praise since premiering in Kampala in October 2023. The film has so far screened at over 20 international film festivals across the world, winning multiple recognitions, award nominations and accolades in the process.
News of PIFF’s nominations galore comes hot on the heels of another recent win for the film at the Bantu Film Festival in Botswana, where it took home the coveted prizes for Best Feature Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay. Last year, the film won a record seven awards at the iKon Film and Television Awards in Kampala.
Speaking to this publication in the wake of PIFF nominations yesterday, Polly Kamukama, the film’s writer and producer, said he was hopeful the recognition would bolster his film’s planned domestic release later this year.
“This recognition is certainly a huge boost for our film as we look to roll out a nationwide release plan starting this December. We have had the blessing of showcasing the film across the world over the last year, and now we believe is the right time for Ugandans to see it. I couldn’t be any prouder of my team,” Kamukama said.
Founded in 2011 by Jamo Productions Ltd, an independent film production and distribution company based in Kampala, PIFF is the second oldest – and perhaps most influential – film festival in Uganda after Amakula, which opened shop in 2004 and has been on a hiatus since the 2019 COVID pandemic.
Despite consistently facing funding challenges, PIFF has, over the years, won the hearts and minds of Ugandan filmmakers and film lovers by remaining steadfast in its mission to champion local storytelling through programming and celebrating high-quality films that challenge stereotypes and inspire change.
The festival’s 12th edition is scheduled to take place from November 18-22 at Bat Valley Theatre and Theatre Labonita in Kampala, and will feature film screenings, workshops, panel discussions and a glitzy awards night.