Create a film fund and let creatives such as Loukman busk in the yellow sun,” he said. “Parliament, this is what building the nation looks like. Many people have come out to congratulate Ali on being the first Ugandan on a platform such as Netflix but also appreciated that The Girl in the Yellow Jumper is going to open doors for more filmmakers.įor instance, actor and media personality Sammy Wetala noted that what Ali did is what it means paving way for others and reminded the government of the need to create a film fund where creatives can easily get funded to turn their visions into a reality. Much as little is known about the actual day the film is premiering this week, it is expected to be available for streaming on Friday because the platform is synonymous with availing new content on the day. When he escapes, he goes back home with a story to tell. The film written and directed by Ali follows a story of a man who is drugged and taken hostage while watching TV. Netflix is an over-the-top media service and American production company that offers subscription-based video on demand from a library of films and television series. On Thursday, Ali’s The Girl in the yellow Jumper became the first local film to be acquired by streaming giants Netflix.
“Most Ugandans claim they don’t know where to find Ugandan films, this is just one way of making our work available,” he says. He produced short films, Blind Date, and 16 Rounds, two films he later availed freely on the platform. Loukman turned to streaming platforms such as YouTube. Yet, when a second lockdown was announced in June, many understood that plan B was needed.
With cinemas closed, many filmmakers set their sights on 2021 to exhibit their works. The producer alongside his team had made strides to market the film in ways most local filmmakers don’t do.įor instance, instead of having a few posters for the film, they had erected at least two billboards advertising the film.īut as fate would have it, in 2020, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, social life as known to many, came to a standstill and halted Loukman’s plans of having The Girl in the Yellow Jumper screened in theatres in Kampala. It was only in December 2019 that the film producer announced plans to have the film premiere in Kampala on April 18, 2020.
Mwine is one of the lead actors in popular American drama, The Chi, plus his earlier exploits in 40, Queen of Katwe, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Heroes, among others.īut this did not happen and the role was later taken up by popular actor and singer Maurice Kirya and a cameo from American actor and producer Morocco Omari from the popular drama, Empire.
It had been in production for more than a year and Ali had teased the public with pictures of the possible cast.Īctors Rehema Nanfuka, Gladys Oyenbot, Michael Wawuyo Jr, and Michael Wawuyo Sr had been confirmed but the producers were bargaining to get the services of American-based Ugandan actor Ntare Mbaho Mwine. Then he released a trailer of the long-awaited film. The first time many Ugandans heard about filmmaker Loukman Ali’s The Girl in the Yellow Jumper was in 2019.