Cinema of Uganda

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File:Jayant Maru.jpg

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The emerging film industry in Uganda is known as Ugawood{{Cite news|title=Ugawood, the Way Forward for Film Makers |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200805050119.html |work=The Monitor |date= 3 May 2008 |access-date=17 November 2009 }} or sometimes Kinauganda by the locals.{{Cite news|title= Local Film Distributors Raise the Flag of Kinauganda |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200810130584.html |work=The Monitor |date=12 October 2008 |access-date=17 November 2009 }} The 2005 production Feelings Struggle directed by Ashraf Ssemwogerere is credited with being the first Ugawood film.{{Cite news |title=Ugawood in, Hollywood, Nollywood out |url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/its_friday/Ugawood_in_Hollywood_Nollywood_out_79450.shtml |work=The Monitor |date=7 February 2009 |access-date=17 November 2009 |archive-date=9 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009235742/https://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/its_friday/Ugawood_in_Hollywood_Nollywood_out_79450.shtml/ |url-status=dead }}

Many have asserted that this steadily growing film industry is derived from Hollywood, in the same manner as Nollywood and Bollywood.{{cite web|url=http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20791:kayonga-ugawoods-rising-star|title=The Observer|first=Daniel|last=Ogwang|work=observer.ug|access-date=9 July 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ugscreen.com/gossip.php |title=Ugawood gossip : Ugandan Movies on Ugscreen |access-date=2013-01-28 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213083157/http://www.ugscreen.com/gossip.php |archive-date=2012-12-13 }}

In a story that ran in a local newspaper in Uganda about the naming of the industry, filmmakers Kuddzu Isaac, Matt Bish and Usama Mukwaya were quoted as saying that Ugawood would be the most appropriate name for the industry.{{cite web|url=http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17873:ugawood-or-kinna-uganda-film-stars-split-over-name|title=The Observer|first=Polly|last=Kamukama|work=observer.ug|access-date=9 July 2016}}

Audiences go to video halls where narrators called VJ's or "video jockey's" translate the dialogue and add their own commentary.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32531558 | title=Uganda's Tarantino and his $200 action movies| work=BBC News| date=2015-05-13| last1=Venema| first1=Vibeke}} Patrons also rent DVDs and watch feature films on prime-time TV.{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2012/11/cinema-uganda|title=Coming to you live|date=2 Nov 2012|newspaper=The Economist}}

Some films are funded by NGOs through cultural grants.{{Cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/37641724|title=Guno Mukwano? (Is This Love?)|via=vimeo.com}} Other films are produced with DIY equipment and low production budgets. Despite low production budgets, Uganda's film industry is quite productive. Isaac Nabwana's Ramon Film Productions, based in

Wakaliga near Kampala, has produced more than 40 low-budget action films. The studio is best known for its 2010 film Who Killed Captain Alex?, which cost $85 to produce.{{cite web|url=https://doubletoasted.com/shows/what-up-son-live-945-pm-cst-5/|title=ALAN HOFMANIS INTERVIEW – What Up, Son?! LIVE @ 9:30 PM CST|website=Double Toasted|date=July 8, 2019}}

The Industry also has a strong and acclaimed film player since 2013. Jayant Maru of MAHJ Productions who has given Uganda gems at the BOX Office like The Route,{{citation|url=http://english.cntv.cn/2014/05/05/VIDE1399235397335242.shtml#.U3pKWlhiOsQ.twitter|title=Uganda's filmmakers aim big |website=CCTV News |date=May 5, 2014 |access-date=2017-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115015041/http://english.cntv.cn/2014/05/05/VIDE1399235397335242.shtml#.U3pKWlhiOsQ.twitter|archive-date=2017-11-15|url-status=dead}} K3NT & KAT3,{{citation|url=http://stagebrief.co.ug/news-and-reviews/2014/EXCLUSIVE-Jayant-Maru-Talks-K3NT-and-KAT3-in-Interview.html|title= EXCLUSIVE: Jayant Maru Talks K3NT & KAT3 in Interview |website=Stagebrief |date=December 17, 2014 |first1=Peter |last1=Odongo |access-date=2017-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007124539/http://stagebrief.co.ug/news-and-reviews/2014/EXCLUSIVE-Jayant-Maru-Talks-K3NT-and-KAT3-in-Interview.html|archive-date=2015-10-07|url-status=dead}} and Sipi, which have not only been nominated in several international festivals but have also brought back home a number of accolades, not forgetting having his films available on Amazon Prime plus in-flight entertainment platforms.{{citation|url=http://www.waafrikaonline.com/2014/02/ugandan-film-route-directed-by-jayant.html|title=Spotlight on Ugandan Film 'THE ROUTE' Directed by Jayant Maru |website=WaAfrika Online |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119094524/http://www.waafrikaonline.com/2014/02/ugandan-film-route-directed-by-jayant.html |archive-date= Nov 19, 2023 }}

The Uganda Communications Commission organizes the Uganda Film Festival to promote the film industry.{{Cite web|url=https://ugandafilmfestival.ug/about-the-festival/background-and-objectives/|title=» Background and Objectives |website=Uganda Film Festival |access-date=2022-06-12|archive-date=2020-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224080804/http://ugandafilmfestival.ug/about-the-festival/background-and-objectives/|url-status=dead}} In 2013, the film State Research Bureau swept four awards.{{Cite web | url=http://ugandafilmfestival.ug/2013-award-winners/ | title=» 2013 Award Winners | access-date=2015-05-17 | archive-date=2018-07-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710010428/http://ugandafilmfestival.ug/2013-award-winners/ | url-status=dead }} In 2014, The Felistas Fable won four awards, including Best Director for Dilman Dila. The Pearl International Film Festival is held annually in Kampala.