In partnership with the EoFA (Geneva), we supported the Residency of Hosein Jalilvand, an Iranian filmmaker working on Panopticon, a documentary about colonisation and wildlife.
We believe that a variety of writing programmes are necessary to support talents on the continent. Hence we are also providing support to the International Writers Lab. Partners of the editions 2021 Kenya, 2023 Ghana, 2023 East Africa.
We believe that a variety of writing programmes are necessary to support talents on the continent. Hence we are also providing support to the International Writers Lab. Partners of the editions 2021 Kenya, 2023 Ghana, 2023 East Africa.
Programme Partner
supporters
Authentica alumni 2023 -2024
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Kelly-Eve Koopman
is a writer, change-maker and artivist. She has written and published a number of works, including her debut memoir Because I Couldn’t Kill You longlisted for the Sunday Times National Book Award in 2019.She is also the co-curator of the celebrated LGBTQI anthology They Called Me Queer and the African online speculative fiction anthology Our Move Next. Kelly just concluded a residency at the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Studies, writing her first novel. She works across different disciplines and mediums including film and television and is currently doing her Masters in Creative Writing at The University of the Western Cape. Kelly-Eve is also an Atlantic Fellowship for Racial Equity alumnus and in her capacity as an activist has worked for and with various organizations and social movements, in pursuit of building a more just, equitable and care-based society.
Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7698132/
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Moreetsi Gabang
graduated valedictorian from AFDA Johannesburg and is a Talents Durban 2017, Talents Berlinale 2018, 2021-2022 DFM Institute Business, and a DFM Jumpstart 2023 alumni. He completed his Master’s degree (First Class) after receiving the Vice-Chancellor’s Postgraduate International Scholarship to study at UAL: London College of Communication. His short film “Motswakwa” (Foreigner) was nominated for Best Short Film at the 2019 African Movie Academy Awards. His short film “Zombie Date Night in Tlokweng” won the 2023 NEFTI Competition Award as well as the Audience Choice Award. He is a two-time recipient of the Bessie Head Literature Award.
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Tiah Beye
born and raised between Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, she came to France to pursue studies in a Grande Ecole. In 2019, she graduated from Kourtrajmé school, an unconventional and free cinema school founded by Ladj Ly. There, she wrote “Convoy” and participated in the Palais de Tokyo workshop « Jusqu’ici tout va bien ». She also produced a homemade documentary titled “Haïroines”, exploring the relationship between Black women and afro hair, during the Covid-19 lockdown. In 2022, she had the opportunity to join Netflix Grow Creative's program. Her ambition today is to develop dramedies inspired by her multicultural background.
Wanjiru Kairu
is a versatile writer and director whose creative prowess spans radio, television, and film. Her portfolio boasts collaborative contributions to the acclaimed "Jongo Love," which earned an international Emmy for Best Production in an audio drama, resonating globally. With over 15 years of experience, she crafts narratives like "Pepeta," "Kona," and "Mali," leaving an indelible impact. Hailing from Nairobi, Kenya, she's earned Kalasha awards for exceptional work on "Makutano Junction" and "Tabasamu," solidifying her industry reputation.
Website: https://cirukairu.com/
Authentica alumni 2022 -2023
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.
Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6044930/
Chantel Clark
is a South African screenwriter and director. Her feature film, currently in development, Wit Gesigte (Pale Faces) was selected for the Sundance Institute’s Screenwriters Lab, IFP’s 41st IFP Week (now The Gotham), and was a SFFILM Rainin Grant Finalist. Most recently, Chantel was invited to the Jacob Burns Film Center as the Sundance International Narrative Filmmaker-in-Residence and was a fellow in the inaugural AuthenticA Series Lab 2022-23, presented by Realness Institute, The StoryBoard Collective, and Series Mania.
Website: https://chantelclarkfilm.com/
Jessica Hagan
is a Ghanaian-British playwright and screenwriter based in Accra. Her debut play QUEENS OF SHEBA won the Untapped Award, The Stage Award and an Off West End Award following a 10-city sold out National UK Tour in 2019. In January 2023, the play had a two-week run at The Public Theater, New York City. She was born and raised in London, England and moved to Ghana in 2018. Jessica heavily explores themes of identity, displacement and misogynoir in her work, drawing on her experiences as both a Diasporan and a Black Woman.
Jessica is also a recipient of the Writers Guild National Play Commission Scheme 2022 for BRENDA’S GOT A BABY, co-produced by Soho Theatre, New Diorama Theatre and Nouveau Riche. Her series COUP is currently in development.
Website: https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/jessica-hagan
Tony Sebastian Ukpo
is a Nigerian writer-director whose films, including Japanese murder mystery Random 11 and Nigerian romantic comedy Mum, Dad, Meet Sam have been released theatrically and streamed on Netflix and Amazon. As a photographer his work was featured as part of the 2022 Taylor Wessing photographic portrait prize.
Word from the filmmaker:
“My work is all about subverting expectations and telling stories from a different perspective. AuthenticA gave me the space and support to refine that approach in a way that brought me back to my roots as a screenwriter, as well as the opportunity to serve a new type of audience as well”
Website: https://www.vertigoheights-film.co.uk
