Hollywood descends on Kasungu for William Kamkwamva movie production

Hollywood film stars and directors are in Malawi’s Kasungu District on a mission to shoot a true story movie based on William Kamkwamba’s story ‘The Boy who Harnessed the Wind’, which has so far been one of the world acclaimed books to come from the country.

Movie picture from the story of ‘The Boy who Harnessed the Wind’

The story has been both a global inspiration and motivational since Kamkwamba with the help of renowned author Bryan Mealer wrote the book narrating his story.

The Hollywood crew which is being led by Chiwetel Ejiofor of the 12 Years a Slave fame has other famous names from Potboiler Productions like a British Female film producer, Andrea Calderwood from the movie “The Last King of Scotland” as well as Gail Egan from the movie “A Most Wanted Man”. Also from American`s film production company Participant Media is Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King and Joe Oppenheimer from BBC films. The production will see Ejiofor making his directorial debut. Ejiofor will also star in the movie as Kamkwamba’s father.

Participant Media, BBC Films and British Film Institute (BFI), with funds from the National Lottery, are lead financiers of the project, along with Head Gear, Econet and LipSync. Participant Media will also be handling the sale of North American distribution rights, while Cornerstone Films will oversee international sales and distribution in all other territories. Econet will handle Sub-Saharan African distribution.

Calderwood and Egan are producing the film while Skoll and King will executive produce the movie along with Oppenheimer, the BFI’s Natascha Wharton and authors Kamkwamba and Mealer.

According to a preview of the upcoming movie by by Anita Busch of Deadline.com, The film basically follows the 13-year-old Kamkwamba (newcomer Maxwell Simba) who is thrown out of the school he loves when his family can no longer afford the fees. Sneaking back into the school library, he finds a way, using the bones of the bicycle belonging to his father Trywell Kamkwamba (Ejiofor), to build a windmill which then saves his village from famine.

The emotional journey of a father and his exceptional son at its heart, William’s tale captures the incredible determination of a boy whose inquisitive mind overcame every obstacle in his path. Key themes from the film aim to raise awareness around environmental sustainability and the power of education.

In addition to Ejiofor and Simba, the cast features Lily Banda as William’s elder sister Annie; Noma Dumezweni (Hermione in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) as Edith Sikelo, the librarian who helped bring William’s story to public attention; Aissa Maiga (Anything for Alice) as William’s mother Agnes; Joseph Marcell (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) as Chief Wimbe; and Lemogang Tsipa (Eye in the Sky) as teacher Mike Kachigunda.

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Kamuzu banda Phiri
6 years ago

Putting kasungu and malawi on the world map…YAYI TERE!!

Khima
Khima
6 years ago

As a Malawian, it makes me feel proud to be associated with such a huge project, really proud. Big up to all involved in the project, sad we cant have any comment koma zokuti azimai akudzulana ma diredi…nde 100 comments.

End times
End times
6 years ago

This is awesome .Holywood stars in Malawi!!!!.I think Malawi should support other initiatives like MHUB.See what this poor Kamkwamba did for his country.From lags to riches.

At the same time stop teaching engineers theory.Teach them practical.

You would find a Mechanical engineering graduate from Polytechnic teaching mathematics at secondary school and i am like are you serious.

zinenani Zoona
zinenani Zoona
6 years ago

Wooow. Ejiofor you must be Nigerian and Nollywood films are not complete without Elders. I am available as an elder.

Y-Jonz
Y-Jonz
6 years ago

This firm will kill a lot of dollars on world market yet Kamkwamba himself will be stuffing the rest of his life

Nana
Nana
6 years ago
Reply to  Y-Jonz

Ukunama William is no longer poor. He is educated to sustain life which is already a dream come true tovhim i guess. Lets be objective

Rhodriques Majawa
Rhodriques Majawa
6 years ago

This is sweet news. A prophet getting recognition and praise from foreigners. Everything is possible if we believe.

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