Hawa is a Kenyan-Ghanaian director whose film Soul Boy has won three awards so far, the Signis Award at Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) 2010, Dioraphte Audience Award at the Gˆteborg International Film Festival in Sweden and Best Feature Film Award at the Rwanda Film Festival 2010.
How did you get involved with Soul Boy?
In September 2008 film companies, Ginger Ink, One Fine Day EV and their British partner NGO Anno’s Africa came up with a the concept for a pilot project to use a manageable budget to develop a film workshop in Nairobi.
Holly Wood director Tom Tykwer (of The International starring Clive Owen and Heaven with Cate Blanchett) would work as a creative supervisor with a small, professional crew and a large group of young trainees to make a medium-length feature film in Kibera.
Tykwer and Kenyan writer Billy Kahora came up with the concept and script for a film. I came in as the director under Tom Tykwer’s tutelage.
READ MORE
Doctors condemn politicians filming patients in hospital for selfish gain
Stars shine at Kalasha Awards amid calls for industry reform
'Sperm Heist' claim lands Githurai nurse in court over coercion, blackmail
How did you find out that the film industry was where you heart was?
My first job was in 2001 at Capital FM. When I left Capital, I got the opportunity to work in the television series, Makutano Junction. I applied for the role as trainee director and I got called.
I learnt a lot about directing and by the second season of Makutano Junction I was the assistant director. From there I got the confidence and knowledge to move to films. Since then I have directed three films: Selfish, Lift and Soul Boy
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a fictional feature film that is set in the Coast. I do not want to give any more information because it is still early.
