Private Project

Episode 2 - THE RWENZORI RAINMAKERS – Restoring the Rains

THE RWENZORI RAINMAKERS – Restoring the Rains.
The second episode of our three part documentary feature.

The motivation for this film is to help Save the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda from deforestation and devastating effects of climate change, by encouraging restoration and nature conservation. Featuring a community in Kasese district, inspired by a group of artists at a bronze sculpture foundry, they have replanted over 200,000 indigenous trees on degraded land. Animal sculptures help create awareness. With lack of water a threat, young people are now keen to live more sustainably than their elders with nature. And we learn more about our project leaders own family life and inspirations.

This episode opens with a night-time honey harvest when the wild bees are drowsy, establishing a nature services theme that enables viewers to see the benefits of biodiversity and tree planting. Isaac creates a shoebill sculpture using beeswax. A local King shares his own re-wilding goals. The team clear a patch of invasive plants and Winnie promotes growing pesticide free vegetables. Bark is harvested for cough treatments, and a discovery of herbs with aphrodisiac properties provides amusement. Meanwhile, ongoing drought underscores urgent need for water by animals and humans alike, but a traditional Rainmaking ceremony high in the mountains, promises rain in three days. The Founders visit the local school, who inspired, return to show off their own sculptures before the anticipated rains finally arrive.

  • Zuleika Kingdon
    Director
    https://www.distantobject.com/
  • Jacqui Doughty
    Producer
    https://walktallmedia.co.uk/
  • Paul Kabango Talking Film Production Services, Uganda
    Production Crew and Services
    https://talkingfilmproduction.com/production-servicing/
  • Andrew Ahuurra
    Composer
    https://www.quad-a.com/team/ahuurra-andrew/
  • Justin Dralaze
    Cinematography
  • Emmanuel Gashumba
    Cinematography
  • Jamie Unwin
    Wildlife Camera
  • Zuleika Kingdon
    Editor and Additional Camera
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Environment, Climate Change, Community, Art
  • Runtime:
    54 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 29, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    120,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    Uganda
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Zuleika Kingdon

Zuleika Kingdon is an independent producer/director, who both films and edits. She loves what she does in all aspects of filmmaking and particularly enjoys focus on cultural arts, environment and health.
She has a BA(Hons) in English, Drama, Film & TV. After early years freelancing, she established Distant Object Productions Ltd with Martin Briggs-Watson in 2006. They went on to win numerous festival awards, including Best of Category Heart Disease for Zuleika’s film Understanding High Blood Pressure (VIDEOMED 2010). The company continues to offer video and streaming services to a wide client base from NGOs to corporates. More recently Zuleika teamed up with producer Jacqui Doughty of Walk Tall Media Ltd to co-found Films for Change Ltd in 2021 to make not just this film but fulfil a desire to do something to help our threatened planet, no matter how small.
Zuleika was born and raised in Uganda, and the country remains close to her heart. She began her career working on documentaries for Oxfam with RSV productions before spending 2 years in China (on Bafta winning River Films series 'Beyond the Clouds' - CH4 1994) She was awarded a new director’s award with Carlton TV and Screen South who broadcast her short ‘The passions of Roswitha’ 2001.
Her BBC documentary (Camera/director) “To Bring a Smile” (Southern Eye 2001) alongside “Isis to the Nile” (British Council) and Rock Music Rock Art (2007) were all shot in Uganda. Back in 1995 she also initiated and produced a historical archive for Makerere University as a training in film production for Ugandans.

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