Oskar Weimar

Nyamula (2025) | Oskar Weimar | Kenya Director: Oskar Weimar | Country: Kenya Key Cast: Daisy Nawire Okwama, Margaret Akinyi Synopsis: On Mfangano Island, young Daisy befriends an outcast elderly woman. When the fish stocks in Lake Victoria begin to fail, the community’s fear turns to accusations of witchcraft, forcing Daisy to take a stand. Why Watch: An official selection for IFFR 2025 (Rotterdam), this film features a non-professional cast and improvised Luo dialogue for a breathtakingly authentic experience. See full programme at kitalefilmweek.org

Trailer from our film, Nyamula, which premiered at International Film Festival Rotterdam earlier this year. Written and performed by a cast of local non-professional actors, Nyamula follows the life of a fisherman's daughter, Daisy, who strikes up a friendship with an elderly woman, Dani, living on the outskirts of a remote fishing village in Kenya. When the lake’s fish begin to disappear, the community searches desperately for answers. Daisy’s mother turns to God. Daisy’s father turns to a group of radicalised fishermen. Others look for a scapegoat, bringing the community’s underlying tensions to the surface. Nyamula was filmed on Mfangano Island, Kenya, in the Luo language. The film’s cast consists of local non-professional actors who drew on their life’s experiences, and their imagination, to develop the film’s story. There was no script. The film’s dialogue was improvised and workshopped by the cast. Principal cast: Daisy Nawire Okwama
 Margaret Akinyi
 Beverly Atieno
 Byron Masanta
 Daniel Okwama
 Perez Okwama
 Regan Okomo
 Mark Nyosewe
 Peter Ndege
 Charles Ombogo
 Robinson Okeyo
 Grace Odede
 Seline Kamala
 Nelson Masanta
 Caroline Masanta
 Phelix Kaoga
 Perez Atieno Director: Oskar Weimar
 Writers: The cast 
 Producers: Edwin Odhiambo, Simon Odupa, Robinson Okeyo, Oskar Weimar
 Associate Producers: Clarice Halanga, Jacob Gachugi, Seline Kamala, Elijah Okeyo, Peter Ochieng, Helen Mwalimu, Ooko Lucy, Odaga 
 Production and Costume Design: Clarice Halanga
 Location Sound: Jacob Gachugi Sound designer and mixer: Milo Fisher Subtitles: Simon Odupa 
 Translator: Simon Odupa
 Editor: Oskar Weimar

Simon and I at the Beijing International Film Festival for our film, Nyamula. Thanks to Rae and Lydia for showing us around.

On Feb 18 and 19, 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀’ 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 presented the programs 𝙐𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙙 and 𝙋𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 at @hackesche.hoefe.kino.berlin . The two world premieres of 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚 by Zhu Xin and 𝙄 𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙚 𝙖 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚! (𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙖 𝙆𝙪𝙖 𝙉𝙮𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙖) by Oskar Weimar were followed by a debate with the two filmmakers and Narges Kalhor, in which the filmmakers were initially allowed only to listen. Later, they had the opportunity to respond. The evening of February 19 celebrated the German premiere of 𝙎𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥 #2 by Radu Jude and 𝙄𝙣 𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚 (𝙄𝙧𝙞𝙨’ 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣) by Diane Severin Nguyen, followed by a debate with Nguyen, Mathieu Li-Goyette and Nele Wohlatz. @zhuxinshiwo @parallaxfilms_sales @oskarweimar @nargeskalhor @radujude @cristutiu @_melancholia @mathieuligoyette @nele_wohlatz____ @woche.der.kritik 📸 © Tabita Nives Hub (@tabitahub ) #unsigned #allquietatsunrise #zhuxin #iwanttobeahouse #natakakuanyumba #oskarweimar #nargeskalhor #julianwarner #pastime #sleep2 #radujude #inhertime #dianeseverinnguyen #independentfilm #filmdebate #filmdiscussion #wochederkritik #berlincriticsweek #wochederkritik2025 #berlincriticsweek2025 #berlinfestival #berlincinema #berlinfilm #berlinevent #cinema #filmfestival #filmevent

🎭 On Tuesday, February 18 at 7 p.m., 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀‘ 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 hosts the program 𝙐𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙙 at @hackesche.hoefe.kino.berlin . 🎥 The evening presents the two world premieres of 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚 by Zhu Xin and 𝙄 𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙚 𝙖 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚! (𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙖 𝙆𝙪𝙖 𝙉𝙮𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙖) by Oskar Weimar. 🔊 In the debate that follows, patience is key: a discussion between our guests 𝗭𝗵𝘂 𝗫𝗶𝗻, 𝗢𝘀𝗸𝗮𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿, 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗵𝗼𝗿 and 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 about the evening’s films, in which the filmmakers present are initially allowed only to listen. Later, they will have the opportunity to respond. 🎟️ More details and tickets via the links in our bio @zhuxinshiwo @parallax_china @oskarweimar @nargeskalhor @woche.der.kritik 📸 © (1) Nowness China, (4) Julius Ertelt #unsigned #allquietatsunrise #zhuxin #iwanttobeahouse #natakakuanyumba #oskarweimar #nargeskalhor #julianwarner #filmdebate #filmdiscussion #wochederkritik #berlincriticsweek #criticsweek #wochederkritik2025 #berlincriticsweek2025 #berlinmitte #berlin #hackeschehöfekino #hackeschehoefekino #berlinfestival #berlincinema #berlinfilm #berlinevent #berlinkunst #berlinart #cinema #filmfestival #filmevent #filmlove

𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀‘ 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 celebrates the world premiere of 𝙄 𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙚 𝙖 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 (Nataka Kua Nyumba) by Oskar Weimar at @hackesche.hoefe.kino.berlin . In his short film, Oskar Weimar tells a magical-realist story about a Nairobi housekeeper who decides to stop working. What she wants is to surrender her body, with all of her senses, to the colonialist building whose owners she has served for many years. Her goal – to disappear from the screen – poses a challenge to the devices of cinema. @oskarweimar @woche.der.kritik 🎥 film still from Oskar Weimar, 𝙄 𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙚 𝙖 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 (Nataka Kua Nyumba), KEN 2024, 31 min #iwanttobeahouse #natakakuanyumba #oskarweimar #film #africanfilm #wochederkritik #berlincriticsweek #criticsweek #wochederkritik2025 #wdk25 #berlincriticsweek2025 #berlinmitte #berlin #berlincinema #berlinfestival #berlinkunst #berlinart #berlinevent #cinema #filmscreening #hackeschehöfekino #hackeschehöfe #hackeschehoefe #filmfestival #filmlove #filmcriticism #cinephilia #cinephile #filmevent #filmdebate

At the end of 2023, I shot and directed a feature film in collaboration with local filmmakers and non-professional actors on Mfangano Island, Lake Victoria. This February, Nyamula will world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Thanks again to everyone involved in the project (see below). Without the generous support of the Mfangano community, this film would not have been possible. Film synopsis: Written and performed by a cast of local non-professional actors, Nyamula follows the life of a fisherman's daughter, Daisy, who strikes up a friendship with an elderly woman, Dani, living on the outskirts of a remote fishing village in Kenya. When the lake’s fish begin to disappear, the community searches desperately for answers. Daisy’s mother turns to God. Daisy’s father turns to a group of radicalised fishermen. Others look for a scapegoat, bringing the community’s underlying tensions to the surface. Background and approach: Nyamula was filmed on Mfangano Island, Kenya, in the Luo language. The film’s cast consists of local non-professional actors who drew on their life’s experiences, and their imagination, to develop the film’s story. There was no script. The film’s dialogue was improvised and workshopped by the cast. Principal cast: Daisy Nawire Okwama
 Margaret Akinyi
 Beverly Atieno
 Byron Masanta
 Daniel Okwama
 Perez Okwama
 Regan Okomo
 Mark Nyosewe
 Peter Ndege
 Charles Ombogo
 Robinson Okeyo
 Grace Odede
 Seline Kamala
 Nelson Masanta
 Caroline Masanta
 Phelix Kaoga
 Perez Atieno Director: Oskar Weimar
 Writers: The cast 
 Producers: Edwin Odhiambo, Simon Odupa, Robinson Okeyo, Oskar Weimar
 Associate Producers: Clarice Halanga, Jacob Gachugi, Seline Kamala, Elijah Okeyo, Peter Ochieng, Helen Mwalimu, Ooko Lucy, Odaga 
 Production and Costume Design: Clarice Halanga
 Location Sound: Jacob Gachugi Sound designer and mixer: Milo Fisher Subtitles: Simon Odupa 
 Translator: Simon Odupa
 Editor: Oskar Weimar

Sleepover will be playing at Flickerfest, 2023. Thanks & congrats to the many generous and talented people who worked on it with me 👏 This film was shot on the lands of the Wurundjeri people. Cast and crew: Gabriel Nicholls Lorcan Yardley Cassius Wolfe Tokarua Rebecca Howell - Cinematographer: Jensen Cope - 1st AC: Aleksander Pedraza - 2nd AC: Karen McPherson - Gaffer: Bernard Winter - Lighting Assistants: Michelle Reeves, Lotte Sweeney, Sam Barnes - Production Designer: Pernell Marsden - Standby Props: Callum Dempsey - Costume Designer: Rose Mitties Baird - Sound Designer: Josh Peters - Sound Recordist: Timothy Smith - Additional Sound Recordists: Robert Rogers, Lyndon Johnson, Daniel A’Hearn - Sound Mixer: Talia Rasso - 1st AD: Sameed Rabbani - Continuity: Imogen Ellis - Editor: Oskar Weimar - Consultant Editor: Cindy Clarkson - Colour Drade: Deidre McClelland, CSI - Stills: Carol Li - Catering: Barbara Weimar, Nell Campbell - VCA Screen Production Coordinator: CJ Welsh - VCA Post-production Coordinator: Grayton Hevern - VCA Post-production Producer: Natalie Cunningham - Supervising Producer: Helen Gaynor - Producers: Weixue Wang, Sam McSweeney Writer / director: Oskar Weimar

Now playing at @melbfilmfest (Australian Shorts) Performance: Jack Riley ( @the___jack___riley ) Photography: Bernard Winter ( @bernardwinter ) Assistant Camera: James Litchfield ( @theblairlitchproject ) Sound: Josh Peters ( @___josh.peters ) Assistant Director: Holly Bates ( @sorcy_hag ) VCA Screen Production Coordinator: CJ Welsh Supervising Producer: Siobhan Jackson Written, directed, edited by Oskar Weimar Thanks to @melbfilmfest for the support. Showing my film in the Australian shorts section is a dream come true 🙂

Each Other, premiering at Slamdance 2021 (Feb 12-25, online) Thanks to everyone involved: Performance: Jack Riley ( @the___jack___riley ) Photography: Bernard Winter ( @bernardwinter ) Assistant Camera: James Litchfield ( @theblairlitchproject ) Sound: Josh Peters ( @___josh.peters ) Assistant Director: Holly Bates ( @sorcy_hag ) VCA Screen Production Coordinator: CJ Welsh Supervising Producer: Siobhan Jackson Written, directed, edited by Oskar Weimar Thanks to Slamdance ( @slamogram ) for the ongoing support and accepting the film into a choc-a-block, stellar program.