By Bill Dan Arnold Borodi
The Drama and Documentary Course Unit class of 2024, at the School of Journalism, Media and Communication at Uganda Christian University (UCU), is set to premiere a new film on October 11, 2024 titled After the Tent. The film has been directed by Winter Walter Muganzi and produced by Ananda Daphin Tayebwa. The premiere which is free will take place at Nkyoyoyo at the university premises from 6pm to 9pm.
After the Tent written by Precious Gift Aloyo, features a talented cast, including Dephas Ogen, Jeremy Kizito, Leah Kabi Alikobakwoyo, Hudah Nassozi, Peter Mirisio and Olivia Nabwanga.
The film addresses critical issues surrounding mental health and the challenges young adults face after graduation. It reflects the lives of six friends, focusing on the character Peter Nsimbi, who struggles with poor decisions leading to depression and drug abuse.
In an effort to seek support, Peter organises a reunion with his friends to share his struggles.
Muganzi emphasizes that the film offers an honest portrayal of life’s challenges. “Just like the saying goes, ‘Call a spade a spade’, “the film does not sugarcoat reality,” he says, something that he believes makes it stand out.
His hope is that After the Tent will promote mental health awareness and highlight the importance of community support.
Muganzi says he faced a number of challenges during production as it was a class assignment requiring input from people with diverse opinions. As such, decision-making was sometimes difficult: “It was very challenging since I had to hear everyone’s opinion, I couldn’t decide for the film as a director, since it was a class project involving many people.”
However the collaborative effort enriched the experience for everyone involved. The film was shot over five days throughout the day and night.
According to Muganzi, the audience should expect an authentic reflection of their current realities and future challenges after graduation. He describes the film as “not just entertainment” but “edutainment”.
Aloyo, who wrote the script, shares that it was crafted by an all-female team. She noted that issues like sexual harassment faced by men are often overlooked in society.
“We realised that men are often left out and ignored hence the need to shed light on them,” she said. The film shows Peter facing sexual harassment among other issues.
Aloyo notes that working on this project felt both intimidating (since it was a big project) and fulfilling (as they brought an important story to life).
For Ogen, who plays the main character, Peter, the firsthand acting experience he gained during production is something he appreciates.
According to him, moments spent working on the film were invaluable as they allowed him to connect more deeply with his classmates than before.
“During this project I connected with my classmates more than I did in my three years,” said Ogen.
The film is currently undergoing its final editing process. The production team is excited about sharing their work with different audiences especially students and hopes it will spark important conversations about mental health
Following its premiere that the team hope will attract many from the UCU Community, as well as celebrated players in film and media at Nkyoyoyo Hall, After the Tent is expected to be submitted for the 2025 Uganda Film Festival and other international festivals as films produced by the School of Journalism Media and Communication class projects have previously received awards and nominations at these festivals – the 2022 class project Cookies and Sweets received a nomination for Best Student Film during the 2023 Uganda Film Festival.
The film is also expected to be showcased in the different cinemas within the country .
The team say it will also be available on YouTube, allowing a wider audience to access its important message.
Because mental health remains a crucial topic globally, After the Tent aims to foster dialogue and deeper understanding among young adults faced with similar struggles .
