‘Call 112’ world premieres in Kampala Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | O Studios Entertainment has premiered a film, Call 112 by acclaimed director Usama Mukwaya at Acacia Mall. Call 112 exposes the threat that disinformation poses to stability. The highly anticipated film, brought together in a partnership between Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung …
Read More »Botswana is stepping into the spotlight in bid to become Africa’s next film hub
Botswana is using strategic reforms to turn its creative sector into an engine for economic growth. The approach draws lessons from South Africa’s success in attracting global filmmakers. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Botswana is borrowing a page from South Africa’s cinematic playbook and strategically deploying film-friendly policies to …
Read More »From Student to Film Star: Meet iKon rising star winner, Iradukunda Rebecca
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | On March 29, 2025, at the Kampala Serena Hotel, Iradukunda Rebecca Hope, 18 years old took home the iKon Award Rising Star accolade for her debut performance in the TV series Crossroads. Although Iradukunda is still pursuing her studies, she has passionately delved …
Read More »Back To Our Roots: The African Film Forum 2025 champions authentic African storytelling
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The iKON Awards hosted the African Film Forum at the Reach A Hand Headquarters in Lungujja March 28th, bringing together budding filmmakers and industry leaders like Ramsey Nouah, Joy Odiette, Kanayo O Kanayo, Patience Ozokwor to discuss how the industry in African countries can …
Read More »Ikon Awards 2025 to honour culture, heritage
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | In a bid to promote culture, the iKON Awards have adopted traditional attire as the official dress code for the highly anticipated 3rd edition of 2025 due March 29. Under the theme, ‘Back to the Roots’, all guests including nominees, VIPs will don traditional outfits …
Read More »MultiChoice Uganda, UCC launch regional film competitions and filmmaker workshops
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | MultiChoice Uganda, the home of great Pay TV entertainment has in partnership with the communications regulator, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), and other partners, launched the Uganda Film Festival (UFF) Regional competitions and training sessions across three regions in Uganda. These competitions and accompanying workshops, …
Read More »How local broadcasters are undermining Uganda’s film industry
COMMENT | Mitchel Mwesigwa | One afternoon, while flipping through local Free-to-Air channels, I stumbled upon something unsettling—a Hollywood blockbuster, fresh from its Box Office release, airing on a local TV station. This wasn’t a licensed pay-tv network or an exclusive streaming deal; it was piracy in broad daylight. In …
Read More »Sonic the Hedgehog 3 tops North American box office for 2nd weekend in a row
LOS ANGELES | Xinhua | Paramount’s action-adventure comedy film “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” took the top spot at the North American box office for the second weekend in a row with an estimated three-day cume of 38 million U.S. dollars, data from measurement firm Comscore showed on Sunday. The …
Read More »Ikon Awards return for third edition
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The stage is set for the grand return of the Ikon Film and Television Awards. The 2025 edition promises to be bigger and better. Organised by the Ikon Inspire Foundation, Reach A Hand Uganda, and Sauti Plus Media Hub, the awards are the …
Read More »Can low-budget, high-quality films help African film making?
Limited financial resources is the biggest obstacle in Africa’s film industry. A collaboration involving Netflix in South Africa has highlights the potential of low-budget yet high-quality filmmaking on the continent. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | A collaboration between Netflix, South Africa’s National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and distribution partner, …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price