African film-maker on the red carpet in Berlin

Caroline Kamya has come full circle in Berlin.  From participating in the fifth  Berlinale Talent Campus held there in 2007, the Ugandan film-maker has produced her first feature film, Imani, which will premier at the 2010 Berlin International Film Festival in February.  By doing so, Kamya embodies the goals of such a program: to enhance the natural talents and abilities of film artists from around the world, while providing them the contacts and creative tools that they need to succeed. This screening is truly a happy ending to the story.

Kamya has been steadily building her production company and her award-winning film repertoire since completing her education in the UK. She received her BA in Architecture from the University of London, though she frankly acknowledges that she knew after one year the subject was not for her. She then made her move and received an MA in TV Documentary at Goldsmith College (also at the University of London).

Like architecture, at some point during her studies she became aware of her inclination to control content and found herself attracted to the concept of fiction films. Her professional development included training and work at the BBC in London and in 1999 she founded her own company, IVAD Productions. 

Kampala-London-Kampala
In 2003 she made the decision to return to Uganda, as somewhere deep inside was the inevitable draw to head back from whence you came. She felt the need to tell her own story and to do that, Africa was her context. “In order for me to move forward, I had to go back.”
Enlarge image Carol Kamya directing a commercial (© Carol Kamya) She returned from the UK in 2004 and set about establishing IVAD Productions in Kampala. The transition was challenging, but she quickly and successfully overcame the numerous hurdles before her.  Many believed that quality productions simply could not be done in Uganda. Carol Kamya set out proving this was untrue, pushing the boundaries of possibility. Kamya successfully created quality commercials and the first Quiz and reality television shows (and now, to boot, a feature film), becoming a true pioneer there in production. IVAD is now considered the leading production house in the country.

Berlin Talent Campus a springboard for film talent
Faced with limited peer support in terms of comparable professional experience, Kamya carefully nurtured her own professional development and consistently sought training opportunities through film workshops and conferences. There is no question that her experience at the Berlinale Talent Campus (BTC) was a key factor in her successful move into feature films.

Not long after her returning to Kampala, a friend mentioned the BTC and Kamya checked it out on the internet.  It seemed the right fit and she applied. “I figured see movies all day and learn from film professionals: that sounded good to me!” she laughingly remarked.
Enlarge image Brian runs through the streets of the ghetto in Imani (© IVAD Productions/Carol Kamya) The BTC was, in her words, a fantastic experience and one she would repeat again in a heartbeat if she could. The vibe and highly artistic environment at the training program was inspiring. She responded immediately to the great creative commonality of the group of young film-makers. As she put it, “Being around them made you feel like no, you weren't crazy to want to make films.  Everybody is like you!”

Also, instrumental was the participants' access to professionals. The wealth of workshops and hands-on training was priceless. And, as organizers hope, the ability to network, both with fellow students as well as with the organizers of the programs, was critical. Those who could move and shake kept an eye on Kamya  and the others, showing an interest in what kind of work they were producing after they left Berlin.

Kamya had not been to Germany before and was impressed with the organization and order of the country.  “It was like a well-oiled machine,” she noted, in “total contrast to Kampala.”  She relates the irony with which her car broke down on the way to the airport to leave for Berlin, bringing into sharp relief the unpredictability of Uganda juxtaposed upon arrival to the very efficient and highly reliable German transport system.

Comparable to the efficient functionality of daily German life, Kamya commented that the BTC was equally well-run. She felt it was well-organized, participants always knew where they needed to be and how to get there, and there were no glitches to content with. She was also positively impressed with the nightclub scene in Berlin.

Berlin-Kampala-Berlin
Armed with the professional skills to create a cinematographic masterpiece, Kamya was left to surmount the hurdles of funding it. IVAD's commercial success was instrumental in this regard. Since it began in 2004, the commissioned work, including corporate and training videos, television commercials and shows, documentaries and promotional videos, were the bread and butter for the independent work Kamya produced.

(© IVAD Productions) “I had to keep many balls in the air,” she reflects.  The corporate work was not what she aspired to, although awards and success came in steadily with IVAD. Her real fulfilment came from her independent work. For Imani, she stored away her earnings for five years, allowing her the freedom to produce and direct the feature film she wanted to make.

And her moment has arrived.  Imani, Kamya considers thoughtfully, is her “best work to date.” She explained that it would actually have to be her best, as it represents the culmination of lessons learned, of understanding better what she wants and how to achieve it. Her work has consistently improved. “My first film was a total disaster, really embarrassing! The second one was a bit better. By the third, I could say, 'yeah, this one is alright'”.

But a feature film was a big leap and she had to have complete trust in herself. The film tells the story of how the lives of a former child soldier, a young maid, and a break dancer overlap in an Ugandan triptych about perseverance, sacrifice and "Imani" – faith.  Most of the actors had never worked on such a production and Kamya put in significant sweat and blood bringing their performances up to the level she wanted.  But the work paid off, as they ultimately delivered moving and credible characters.

In the coming weeks Kamya will have the honour of travelling to Berlin to witness the world premier of Imani on the screen at the renowned Berlin International Film Festival (February 11-21). It is literally a dream come true. She also hopes to circulate the film at other large festivals in the year (like the Durban Film Festival), as well as use the opportunity to sign on a distribution agent. The film has already drawn interest from a Swedish company for showings in the Nordic countries.
Enlarge image Movie poster for Imani (© IVAD Productions/Carol Kamya) This exposure will also boost the film's appeal at home, as a Ugandan film playing in Uganda does not necessarily draw crowds. But, as Kamya notes, “make a little noise outside the house” and then you can bet on increased interest.

The excitement in the film director's voice is palpable. “This is something like going back to the old school to say 'hey, look what I've done!'” 

And there's sure to be more to come. Carol Kamya anticipates a migration back to London at some point for her next project, another feature film that explores the notion of dual-identity (a pertinent topic for this self-proclaimed international nomad). She hopes to put together a more experienced team and have a stronger budget. After screening Imani in Berlin, this seems a very realistic goal.

For more information about the Berlinale Talent Campus

For more information about the Berlin Film Festival 2010