Rungano Nyoni

Directors popping up from Zambia? Yeah, not exactly a dime a dozen. That’s where Rungano Nyoni stands out—she’s actually from Lusaka, even if she bounced to the UK with her folks before she could even spell “filmmaker.” Grew up in Wales, grabbed her degree in Birmingham, then decided drama school in London sounded like a good idea. But acting? Nah, barely dipped her toe in that pool (seriously, three films and out). Turns out, she’s way more into telling stories than just reciting lines. Makes sense, since “Rungano” actually means “story-telling.” Wild, right? So, from 2009, she’s been all about writing and directing. Those short films she made? Total festival magnets. Judges everywhere couldn’t get enough—prizes rained down. Two of those shorts were shot back in her old stomping grounds, Zambia, which isn’t exactly a regular on the world cinema map. But that changes big time with her first feature, “I Am Not a Witch,” back in 2017. The film’s got this blend of dry humor and a kind of dreamy sadness as it follows a nine-year-old girl who’s basically thrown under the bus and accused of being a witch—for no good reason. The story’s sharp, the style’s super fresh, and suddenly, people everywhere are sitting up and paying attention to both Nyoni and Zambia. If you missed it, honestly, you’re missing out.