I Am Not a Witch

  • 93'
  • United Kingdom
  • 2017

Belief in witchcraft is alive and well in rural Zambia. As Shula, an eight-year-old transient girl, finds out when she unsuspectingly walks into a village and is mistaken for a bad spirit. After a brief public trial she is put in a witches’ colony, where she is tied up on a long white ribbon to stop her from flying away. During the day, she is forced to work on the land with the other ‘witches’, or sing songs for tourists. Shula's lot seems to be improving when Mister Banda, an opportunistic official, takes her under his wing to 'do business together'. He has her pronounce judgements, make rain and even appear in a TV show.

I Am Not a Witch clearly shows how accusations of witchcraft are often a mask for other forms of abuse of power and misogyny. This is no visual anthropological essay, however. The film contains fairy-tale elements, the soundtrack features Vivaldi and there is an unmistakable satirical undertone. A wonderful hybrid film by a promising debut filmmaker.

  • 93'
  • United Kingdom
  • 2017
Director
Rungano Nyoni
Countries of production
United Kingdom, France, Germany, Zambia
Year
2017
Festival Edition
IFFR 2018
Length
93'
Medium
DCP
Language
English
Producers
Mary Burke / BFI British Film Institute, Eve Gabereau, Eva Yates, Juliette Grandmont / Clandestine, Titus Kreyenberg / Unafilm
Production Companies
BFI British Film Institute, Film4, Soda Pictures, Clandestine, Unafilm
Sales
Kinology
Screenplay
Rungano Nyoni
Cinematography
David Gallego
Editor
Yann Dedet, George Cragg, Thibault Hague
Production Design
Nathan Parker
Sound Design
Olivier Dandré, Maiken Hansen
Music
Matthew James Kelly
Cast
Margaret Mulubwa, Henry B.J. Phiri, Nancy Mulilo, Margaret Sipaneia
Local Distributor
September Film
Website
http://rungano.com/about-1
Director
Rungano Nyoni
Countries of production
United Kingdom, France, Germany, Zambia
Year
2017
Festival Edition
IFFR 2018
Length
93'
Medium
DCP
Language
English
Producers
Mary Burke / BFI British Film Institute, Eve Gabereau, Eva Yates, Juliette Grandmont / Clandestine, Titus Kreyenberg / Unafilm
Production Companies
BFI British Film Institute, Film4, Soda Pictures, Clandestine, Unafilm
Sales
Kinology
Screenplay
Rungano Nyoni
Cinematography
David Gallego
Editor
Yann Dedet, George Cragg, Thibault Hague
Production Design
Nathan Parker
Sound Design
Olivier Dandré, Maiken Hansen
Music
Matthew James Kelly
Cast
Margaret Mulubwa, Henry B.J. Phiri, Nancy Mulilo, Margaret Sipaneia
Local Distributor
September Film
Website
http://rungano.com/about-1

Programme IFFR 2018

Limelight

Avant-premieres of some of the cinematic highlights of the year: international award-winners and festival favourites that will be released in Dutch cinemas after IFFR.

Read more about this programme