The 2024 Zurich Film Festival has announced On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, a film by Zambian-Welsh filmmaker Rungano Nyoni as the winner of the Feature Film Competition for this year’s 20th edition. The festival was held from October 3 to 13.
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won a directing award in the Une Certain Regard section. It has a young lady named Shula as protagonist. Her family’s secrets come under scrutiny after she stumbles on her uncle’s lifeless body on a deserted road.
The was directed by Nyoni and produced by Tim Cole, Ed Guiney, and Andrew Lowe. It is one of a few internationally acclaimed films made by an African filmmaker this year.
The film features a cast led by actress Susan Chardy as Shula. Roy Chisha, Blessings Bhamjee, Maggie Mulubwa, and Henry B.J. Phiri also feature in the film.
At the event in Switzerland, Chardy represented Nyoni and received the award on behalf of the director. Subsequently, she took to Instagram. “What an honour to represent the incredibly talented and brilliant Rungano Nyoni and the amazing cast and crew of On Becoming a Guinea Fowl to collect the award for Best Feature Film.”
Jury Statement
Describing the film, the jury, led by American director Lee Daniels, said, according to Cineuropa, that it was a “surreal and dramatic comedy which is full of surprises and which revolves around the lies we tell ourselves.”
In a statement, the jury added that Nyoni’s film “catapults viewers into a spectacular world, with incredible music, exquisite sound design and breathtaking performances. We have no doubt the director will win over Hollywood”.
Other winner’s at the Zurich Film Festival winners include Shiori Itō’s Black Box Diaries. It won the Documentary Competition and the Audience Award. The Kids’ Jury Award went to Raymond Grimbergen’s Lioness.
