Nathan Collett is a
filmmaker
Filmmaking (film production) is the process by which a motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, starting with an initial story, idea, or commission. It then continues through screenwriting, castin ...
based in
Nairobi
Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper h ...
,
Kenya
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.
Film career
Overview
Collett's work focuses on those on the margins of society as well as on environmental issues. He has filmed across the world, including location footage in
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐; ar, ุงูุตูู
ุงู, aแนฃ-แนขลซmฤl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
and
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
. He works both in fictional films and on documentaries, with a specific focus on
Kibera in Kenya, Africa's largest shantytown. He is a co-owner of
Hot Sun Films, a film/video production and training company. One of Hot Sun Films' projects is the
Hot Sun Foundation, a non-profit organization. The organization gives training to the youth of Kibera in film and video, and also started the first film school for local youngsters.
Ukwelii
Films
''The Oath''
''The Oath'' is a
2005 in film, 2005 short drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...
written by Collett and Njuguna Wakanyote. Set in 1950s Kenya during the
Mau Mau uprising under
British colonialism
The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts est ...
, the film portrays the struggle between two brothers on opposite sides of the conflict.
''Kibera Kid''
''
Kibera Kid'' is a short film set in the
Kibera slums in Nairobi, Kenya. It was written, directed and co-produced by Collett in collaboration with local people in Kibera.
''Charcoal Traffic''
In 2008, Collett directed the short film ''
Charcoal Traffic'', which was written by and co-produced with the Somali environmentalist
Fatima Jibrell
Fatima Jibrell ( so, Fadumo Jibriil, ar, ูุงุทู
ุฉ ุฌุจุฑูู; born December 30, 1947) is a Somali-American environmental activist. She was the co-founder and executive director of the Horn of Africa Relief and Development Organization (now Ade ...
. The film was shot on location in Somalia,
and employs a fictional storyline to educate the public about the ecological damage that charcoal production can create.
[Fatima Jibrell - Goldman Prize](_blank)
''Togetherness Supreme''
In April 2009, Collett shot his first feature film ''Togetherness Supreme'', in collaboration with the local community in front and behind the camera. It is the follow-up to ''Kibera Kid'' and was shot on the
Red One camera,
the first time the camera was used in Kibera to shoot a feature film. The film is set in Kibera, and focusing on tribal tensions and the possibilities of reconciliation in Africa's largest shantytown. ''Togetherness Supreme'' was first shown to the community in Kibera where over 3,000 people turned up for one screening, and over 26,000 people watched it in the community. The film has been dubbed "Slumdog without the Millionaires" by the
Vancouver International Film Festival
The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is an annual film festival held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for two weeks in late September and early October.
The festival is operated by the Greater Vancouver International Film Fest ...
, in reference to the 2008 movie ''
Slumdog Millionaire
''Slumdog Millionaire'' is a 2008 British drama film that is a loose adaptation of the novel '' Q & A'' (2005) by Indian author Vikas Swarup. It narrates the story of 18-year-old Jamal Malik from the Juhu slums of Mumbai. Starring Dev Pa ...
''. ''Togetherness Supreme'' tells a community-based authentic story of love, conflict and reconciliation in the midst of ethnic and political violence.
Awards
Collett won multiple awards for the short film ''Kibera Kid''.
''Togetherness Supreme'' also won 'Best International Film' at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2011, which was the US premiere of the film. Togetherness Supreme also won the Global Landscapes Award at Cinequest film festival 2011
Filmography
Collett's films as a director include:
[Refram - Nathan Collett](_blank)
/ref>
* ''Togetherness Supreme'' (2010)
* '' Charcoal Traffic'' (2008)
References
External links
*
Article on community based approach / Togetherness Supreme
News article on Togetherness Supreme
Kibera Kid
;Video sites
Chronic in Kenya Short Documentary
Sex To Survive Short Documentary
link to Togetherness Supreme Trailer Vimeo
The Oath Trailer on YouTube
TV News Report on Kibera Kid, Nathan Collett
Kibera Kid Trailer
Charcoal Traffic Trailer
{{DEFAULTSORT:Collett, Nathan
Kenyan film directors
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
Fulbright alumni