About the film collective I founded

Why I created the film collective I picked the name Sisi Film Collective after asking for opinions, including a poll in the fediverse. People liked the sound of Sisi, which translates to ‘Us’ in Kiswahili, because it has a musical feel. Perhaps it makes you think of “Cissy”, or “Sissy” as in sister. So that’s … Read more

When Film Imitates Art

I wrote this article in 2013, for an online journal, and well, someone asked me how I started out recently and I promised to give her this article because it contains a bit of my initial journey in film making in Uganda, so I am posting it here. If you are reading this in the … Read more

How to Successfully Become a Full-time Artist

I bought a bottle of wine in Durban, South Africa, in March 2015. It’s cheap, cost about a hundred rand, but at that time I was going through very tough times and wanted something to use in celebration when the tide turns. Today, I’m seriously thinking about opening that bottle. I wonder if it’s still good, for I travel frequently and switch off the fridge to save power. I want to celebrate for 2018 is a ten-year anniversary.

Short Films

I love creating short films, mostly because I can work on them as a one man crew. Film is a complex art. I sometimes think it is not even art, because it requires a lot of people working together to create it, and it relies so much on technology and on money. Jean Luc Godard once said that film will only become an art if the tools of making it are as cheap as pencil and paper. I think it will become art only if it becomes possible for one individual to create it with tools that are cheaper than pencil and paper. We are getting there, as cameras and software get friendlier for one-person-crews, as computing power gets cheaper, we are getting there. In most of the short films here, I was the only crew, doing everything from lighting to camera work to editing. It’s crazy fun.

I’ve listed them in order of those I like the most, or those that came out really nicely.

What Happened in Room 13

And adulterous affair goes wrong. The woman ends up dead. The man races against time to bury her body before anyone notices his crime.

I like this film a lot. It features Anne Kansiime in her first film role (she has not changed much in over ten years, I mean in terms of looks). I wrote it as an experiment, when I challenged myself to make a short film without any dialog. I think anyone who wants to be a serious filmmaker should make short films without dialog, it’s a great process that trains you to think in visual terms.

Kifaro

A man sends a killer robot after his wife and her secret lover.

Love Clone

She married a monster, but she found a perfect solution

Birdy Blue Pet

She killed her pet bird. Now she can’t have any friends.

Ghost of a Broken Heart

In near-future Kampala, a woman discovers the perfect way to get revenge, when she finds her boyfriend cheating on her with her best friend.

Cursed Widow Blues

She cheated on her husband, and he killed himself in grief. Now, she can’t ever fall in love again.

No Letting Go

A woman who tries to cheat death, and unleashes a horror upon her family.

Saving Mugisha!

About a boy who is wets his bed, and the teacher who helps him to find peace in his life.

Move-In

A couple discovers that the new house they are moving into was used to make a horror-movie, and that the set was never dismantled.

This is part of the series of short films that I’m making under the horror-romance theme. I started learning CGI last year, and this film is the first attempt to use it for special effects. It didn’t come out too badly, I think.

Jilted Lovers

When a man fails to woo a woman, he joins a sinister group that gives him evil powers to get her.

You Might Also Like

How to donate to and support my films

Why I’ll Focus on Making Films for Online Distribution

This is not funny! It’s a horror!

Kampala at Night

I love Kampala at night. I adore the low lights, which almost give it a romantic ambiance. It may not be brightly lit like the really big and rich cities, but the low lights give it a unique characteristic. I know a time will come when ‘development’ will happen and wipe away the beauty, and … Read more

The Ghosts of Dictators in Bukoba

Some places are like pages of a book that preserves history. Bukoba is one such place. It boasts of something from every chapter in human history; Stone Age rock art in Bwanjai, ancient foundries in Katuruka, a colonial palace in Kanazi, and ruins from one of Africa’s first inter-state wars in Kyaka. I went to Bukoba to look … Read more

Seven Tricks Ugandan Girls Use to Hook Men

A man has a lot of tricks to seduce a woman. Some are outright crude, like using his middle finger to scratch her palm when they greet. Some are outrageous, like whistling at her as she walks down the streets. Others are ludicrous, like telling her lies about his wealth. Because of the gender power … Read more