BE A PART OF AWARD-WINNING FILM DIRECTOR WANURI KAHIU'S NEW DOCUMENTARY
Written by Administrator Thursday, 02 December 2010 Kenyan writer/director Wanuri Kahiu's most recent film, Pumzi, premiered at the Sundance film festival and won best short film at Cannes Independent film festival and at Carthage Film Festival, Tunisia (trailer). Her first feature, From a Whisper, won 5 awards at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009, including Best Picture, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and AMAA Achievement in Editing. Now she is embarking on her most challenging project yet - Ger Duany - Retrace - a journey with a former Sudanese child soldier back into the heart of a country at the crossroads of war and peace, and she and Ger (above) need your help to make it happen.
GER DUANY - RETRACE
A documentary about Ger Duany's search for his mother, his father and his first vote for a new Sudan!
THE STORY
Ger Duany was a child soldier in another lifetime. Now, at age 31, he lives and works in New York. It has been almost 20 years since Ger last saw his parents and his siblings. This Christmas, Ger wants to return to Sudan to find his mother and vote for a stable South Sudan. Ger is not sure what to expect, if the country is plunged into war again, he does not know how he will save his family from it.
Ger Duany
THE IMPACT
"My family is my Nation"Sudan is the largest country in Africa. In January 2011, Sudan will be voting for a referendum to split the country in two or to keep it as one. For a country that has been plagued by war for so long, it has been the struggle of the inhabitants to find ways to ensure a peaceful country.
Over the last 10 years, Ger has lost 2 brothers in the war. With the rising tension as a result of the referendum, Ger is not sure if his other brother, a soldier in the South Sudan army will make it out. Ger wants to see his family while he can. He wants to be a part of the change before it happens. Like many others who have left as a result of the war, the ones left behind have found it hard to accept and include Sudanese from the diaspora. If they are not seen to be a part of the change now, then few will be readily accepted back into the society after the referendum.
Ger believes that his vote will help bring about the much needed change and stability in his country. His vote is a vote for his family. His vote is a vote for a peaceful nation and his journey is for the unification of his family. his vote and his journey remind us of the resilience of the human sprit and are a testament of true love.
Wanuri Kahiu. Photo by Chris King
WHAT WANURI & HER CREW NEED AND WHAT YOU GET
Due to the civil unrest in Sudan, flights and safe accommodation have been very pricey. It costs the same amount to travel from Kenya to Sudan as it does from Kenya to Europe. With the money we raise, we will secure tickets, accommodation, food for the Director of Photography, the Director and Ger. So far we have secured ONE return ticket to Juba and the crew has generously donated their time and effort to fulfilling this ambitious project. Any and all money goes towards the creation of this historic, personal and important testimony of a family and a nation.In return for the generous donations, the filmmakers will offer contributors credit and special thanks in the film as well as a copy of the completed film and a free copy of the Director's last award winning short film 'PUMZI'.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
Spread the word. Spread the feeling. Link Wanuri Kahiu and her team with others who may be able to help. Contribute, support, encourage them. They guarantee warm, fuzzy feelings and a copy of the completed film if you help!
HELP FUND WANURI KAHLU'S FILM AT
IndieGoGo
You can also find Wanuri on Facebook and at her main site
