Talemwa Pius is a screenwriter, film director, editor and producer. His objective is to explore different film genres to challenge and break African stereotypes. Having worked on various social issues, he is the writer and director of the award-winning “Engaito”. He is an alumnus of the Multichoice Talent Factory Academy in Nairobi, Kenya, and has also attended and completed the Short Form Storytelling Workshops at the New York Film Academy (NYFA). Enjoy this chat with Oumar as he tells us about his background and projects.

Mlilo Mpondo is a writer published by various national and international platforms (e.g., UK Guardian, ELLE Magazine). Her stories talk about women, usually those on the socio-economic and cultural periphery of society. In 2022, she published the novel Things My Mother Left to Me (Black Bird Books). She is also the recipient of the UJ Debut Fiction Prize 2023 and has been long listed for the 2023 Sunday Times Literary Award. She speaks to Oumar about she carries stories.

‍Tony Koros is a filmmaker, and recipient of many prestigious fellowships and grants (e.g., 2021 Sundance Screenwriters & Directors Lab Fellow, 2020 Tribeca Film Institute Sloan Grant). His short films have been screened in various international festivals, including Palm Springs International Shortfest where he won the Alexis Prize in 2017. His latest short film, “Tithes & Offerings” premiered in competition at Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2019 and was distributed by CANAL+. Here is his conversation with Oumar about his participation to the AuthenticA residency

Tiah Beye, is a writer from Senegal and the Ivory Coast who is now based in France. Beye graduated from Kourtajme School, a free film school in Paris founded by French filmmaker Ladj Ly; she has also participated in Netflix’s Grow Creatives programme, which aims to improve diversity and inclusion in the international industry. She shares her story with our host Oumar in this 4th and last episode of season 2.

Wanjiru Kairu, the creative force behind the International Emmy Award-winning team for Jongo Love, is a seasoned writer-director and vibrant storyteller hailing from Nairobi, Kenya. Collaborator on renowned series like The Mysteries of Jabali & Sauti, Kona, Mali, Nairobi Law, Makutano Junction, and Tabasamu. Wanjiru’s body of work has earned her prestigious Kalasha Awards from the Kenya Film Commission. She sits with Oumar to talk about her AuthenticA adventure

Kelly Eve Koopman is a multifaceted artist, writer, and activist whose work resonates with authenticity and depth. Through her creative endeavors, she explores themes of identity, belonging, and social justice, sparking meaningful conversations and inspiring positive change. With a distinctive voice and a passion for storytelling, Kelly Eve Koopman shares her story with Oumar.

From Botswana, Moreetsi Gabang has emerged as a talented writer and director. His passion for storytelling was ignited while living in Addis Ababa when an inspiring guidance counsellor posed the question of his life’s purpose. From that moment, Moreetsi’s journey as a filmmaker began to unfold. With a background in writing and directing, Moreetsi’s expertise in the film industry has flourished. He tells Oumar his story and more.

Angela Wanjiku Wamai

has been working as a film editor in Nairobi for nearly a decade. In 2022, she completed her feature debut Shimoni (The Pit), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and has continued a successful festival run. The film was awarded the Étalon de Bronze at FESPACO and the golden film award at the Luxor African film festival. Angela is drawn to stories of broken men and often explores the themes of fatherhood, grief, and loss in her work. Enkop (The Soil) is no different, and in this Neo-Western drama series, she situates this exploration in Kenya's vast and volatile ranchland.

Unlike for prior episodes, she has this conversation with Oumar following the Series Mania festival in Lille.

Chantel Clark is a South African director and screenwriter. Chantel’s script for her directorial feature debut “Wit Gesigte (Pale Faces)”, was selected for the Sundance Institute’s January 2019Screenwriters Lab, IFP’s 41st IFP Week Project Forum, and was a SFFILM Spring2019 Rainin Grant Finalist. Asa Graduate of the Film MFA Program at Columbia University, her thesis film “Our Albertinia” was awarded a 2018 National Board of Review Student Grant and screened at over 25 international film festivals. Chantel has received her Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Production and in Television Drama from the University of Cape Town. She is currently an ambassador for Girls in Film South Africa.

‍She meets up with Oumar for an intimate conversation covering her passion for writing stories.

Jessica Hagan is an Accra-based Ghanaian-British writer, who heavily explores themes of identity, displacement and misogynoir in her work. Her debut play “Queens of Sheba'' won the Untapped Award 2018. The play went to Edinburgh FringeFestival in August 2018 and had a successful sold-out 4 week run with 4- and 5-star reviews across the board and won the The Stage Award 2018. In 2019,“Queens of Sheba'' went to a 10-city National Tour and won an OFFIE in 2020 for Best Performance Piece for its run. Jessica is a recipient of the Writers Guild National Play Commission Scheme 2022 for her play BRENDA'S GOT A BABY,co-produced by Soho Theatre, New Diorama Theatre and Nouveau Riche. In 2023,“Queens of Sheba'' will have a 2-week run at the Public Theatre, New York City.

She is welcomed by our host Oumar Touré-Franzen for an informal conversation on art, life and her approach to screen writing.

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