The 12th edition of the Uganda Film Festival, organized by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), wrapped up on Friday with its grand closing gala. However, the event mirrored some persistent challenges facing the Ugandan film industry.
Over the years, the festival has been a reflection of both progress and setbacks within the local film scene. From underwhelming marketing efforts to low attendance at cinema screenings, the event continues to highlight issues many filmmakers are grappling with.
This year’s festival came during a particularly difficult period for the industry. MultiChoice significantly reduced its film commissioning rate, leading to a nearly 50% drop in both production volume and overall film quality.
Surprisingly, many of Uganda’s top producers did not submit films—not due to a boycott, but because financial constraints made independent production nearly impossible.
As a result, emerging filmmakers had an opportunity to shine. New names submitted their work in the absence of veteran directors like Nisha Kalema, Matthew Nabwiso, Matt Bish, Nana Kagga, Usama Mukwaya, and Richard Mulindwa.
Among the Best Feature Film nominees, only one had previously been nominated or won: Hassan Mageye. The rest were fresh faces entering the category for the first time. Notably, Rehema Nanfuka, who won Best Feature Film for Nkinzi, is better known for her directing role in Veronica’s Wish. This marked her first attempt at producing—and a successful one.
Most of the other nominees were first-timers, with several showcasing debut projects.
Despite the challenges, the festival remained true to its essence—celebrating storytelling and cinematic art through the big screen.
