My name is Aziku Sharon. I live in Arua. I’ve always wanted to be a filmmaker, because I’m passionate about ending gender-based violence. I know, it’s a broad ambition, and a little vague, but the film industry is dominated by males, and women suffer a lot of humiliation and harassment to get to go the top, and I wanted to start my own company, Azisha Film Empire, and tell stories about women, and give women a chance to work in the industry without having to endure harassment. I don’t really know why I’m so stuck on women, but somehow, it is my driving force. In Arua, I never had a chance to study filmmaking. I once got a friend, a priest based in Italy, who took me through the basics of screenwriting, but this was mostly a shallow introduction and I never learned much. Then I got an opportunity, and I did not hesitate, but I traveled all the way from Arua, in the Northwest part of the country, to Kabale, in the Southwest, because I could not miss out on this chance, though it was really meant for Kabale people. I’m touched that I was accepted, and now I am confident enough to tell people I’m a filmmaker, confident to even dream about starting my own company.
Confidence is crucial. As a woman who lives in a small town far from the capital city, it is very difficult to see yourself as able to stand up to the standards of the city, but then, I got an internship with Tebere Arts Foundation, in the theater space. The play we were working on required audio effects, and also video effects on a project. The audio production and video editing skills I learned in Kabale now came in very handy, and the Kampala people were amazed that I could efficiently create all these. It boosts my confidence, knowing I’m on the right path, and I go back to Arua with new skills and boosted ambitions to achieve my dreams.
Written by Aziku Sharon
Sharon was a participant in the 2022 Mobile Film School training in Kabale. She is now a filmmaker in Arua. As the founder and team leader of WestNile Cinematic Arts Network (WeCAN), Sharon leads an initiative that uses film and performing arts to restore hope, amplify marginalized voices, and advocate for human rights, particularly gender equity. Through WeCAN, she has spearheaded community-based film initiatives that blend artistic expression with social advocacy and capacity building. Click here to know more about her.