Kelsey Marsh, Angeli Gabriel, Bryan Bello
Dynamic Writer/Director duo Katherine Fairfax Wright and Malika Zouhali-Worrall are Chaz & Roger Ebert Directing Fellows, and alumnae of the Film Independent Documentary Lab and the Garrett Scott Documentary Development Grant at Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. In 2012, Filmmaker Magazine named Katherine and Malika two of the 25 New Faces of Independent Film. Their collaborative film “Call Me Kuchu” intimately steps into the lives of gay Ugandans and the struggles they face on a daily basis trying to overturn the court’s ruling of the anti-homosexuality bill.
Fairfax Wright and Zouhali-Worrall sat down with the Center’s graduate fellows to discuss the film’s influence on LGBT issues in Uganda, character discrimination, and outreach campaign both in Uganda and abroad. The women also elaborated on the film’s story structure and master plan providing sound words of advice for beginning filmmakers. Watch their interview unfold and check out the film’s website for more information.
Download transcript.
Katherine Fairfax Wright
Katherine Fairfax Wright graduated from Columbia University with a double major in Film Studies and Anthropology. She produced GABI ON THE ROOF IN JULY (2010), associate-produced the award-winning documentary LUMO, and has worked in a producing role on several other films. She is also an award-winning photographer. Katherine is a Chaz & Roger Ebert Directing Fellow, as well as an alumnus of the Film Independent Documentary Lab, the Garrett Scott Documentary Development Grant at Full Frame, and the Film Independent Producing Lab. In 2012, Filmmaker Magazine named Katherine one of the 25 New Faces of Independent Film. She is currently producing Malik Vitthal’s Watts-set gangster drama IMPERIAL DREAMS.
Malika Zouhali-Worrall
MALIKA ZOUHALI-WORRALL is an award-winning director, producer and editor of British/Moroccan origin. She is one of the directors and the producer of CALL ME KUCHU (2012), a documentary that depicts the last year in the life of the first openly gay man in Uganda, David Kato. The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, where it won the Teddy Award for Best Documentary and the Cinema Fairbindet Prize. It has since won 18 more awards, and was theatrically released in North America and Europe to critical acclaim, with a 98% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Malika’s current film, THANK YOU FOR PLAYING, directed and produced in partnership with David Osit, tells the story of Ryan Green, an indie video game developer who’s building a video game about his terminally ill young son. The film is an ITVS/POV co-production and premiered at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. Malika is a Chaz & Roger Ebert Directing Fellow and an alumnus of the Film Independent Documentary Lab, the Tribeca All Access program, the Firelight Producers Lab, and the Garrett Scott Documentary Development Grant at Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. In 2012, Filmmaker Magazine named Malika one of 25 New Faces of Independent Film. Malika is a graduate of Cambridge University, and holds an M.A. in International Affairs from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po), where she studied with a full scholarship from the Entente Cordiale Scholarship Scheme. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, journalist Andy Greenberg. http://www.malikazw.com/
'Call Me Kuchu' Synopsis
Producer/Director/Writer team Katherine Fairfax Wright & Malika Zouhali-Worrall expalin what the film is about in their own words.
Attraction To Issue
The pair discuss how they became attracted to this issue.
Choosing Characters
Fairfax Wright and Zouhali-Worrall respond to the question – with so many activists in the community, how did you determine who to follow; which story will be told.
Knowing Characters
The duo talk about how they were introduced to their characters and the bonds they shared with them.
Living With Naome
The pair expand on what is was like living with Naome.
Master Plan
Fairfax Wright & Zouhali-Worrall expound on the goals of the film.
Media & Gay Community
The duo chat about the role of the media in stigmatizing the LGBT community.
The Rolling Stone
Fairfax Wright and Zouhali-Worrall explain the true nature of the Rolling Stone newspaper.
Investigative Journalism
Zouhali-Worrall tells her thoughts about meeting fellow journalist Giles.
Evangelical Pastors
Fairfax Wright talks about her most challenging moment during filming.
Religion & LGBT
Katherine expands on the importance of religion to the LGBT community.
Issues with Community
Zouhali-Worrall and Fairfax Wright clarify concerns about their personal safety during filming.
Uganda Screening
The pair talk about the film’s Ugandan screening.
Future Screenings
Fairfax Wright & Zouhali-Worrall expand on the film’s future screenings and it’s potential use as a media tool in the LGBT community.