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Almost a decade later,Guinea Fowlopens in an profoundly different political and cultural environment.
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Im really just lucky this was made, Nyoni says ofGuinea Fowl.
Rungano NyoniStephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images.
I thought nobody would want to make it.
Picturehouse began the films UK rollout late last year while A24 will release the film stateside from March 7.
DEADLINE: The film is about to be released in the UK.
How are you feeling?
RUNGANO NYONI:Im a little nervous, but Im grateful the film will be in cinemas.
Its such a niche film that I thought they would probably just give up and put it on Netflix.
I dont mind Netflix as such.
DEADLINE: Why do you say that?
NYONI:I dont know.
I always expect that.
I just feel like its super niche.
There are so many films that its remarkable that films ever get made and distributed.
I never think that my films are particularly audience-facing.
At least my first two.
And what strikes me is that this film is niche but it is also hilarious.
There is a lot of humor that could appeal to wide audiences.
NYONI:I just thought it was depressing.
But this is just my personality.
I always think the worst and then youre pleasantly surprised if something different happens.
Im just lucky this was made in the first instance because I thought nobody would want to make it.
And I said if he rejects me, we can send it to one more.
I dont want everyone to reject me simultaneously because I had that withIm Not A Witch.
You had lots of people saying Yeah, its nice, but nah.
I didnt want to repeat the same thing.
DEADLINE: Was that producer Ed Guiney?
DEADLINE: And he immediately said yes?
NYONI:Yeah they said this looks good and they could try and find funding.
He was very chill and believed he could find the money for it.
The same thing happened withIm Not A Witch.
All the rejection came when I was looking for a producer.
But when the financier came on board it all came together very quickly.
Do you know that has become a meme?
NYONI:I wasnt prepared at all.
And when Im not prepared diarrhea just comes out of my mouth.
I know everyone says this, but really we were at the back of the room.
I thought I could just get drunk.
So it was a shock.
I thoughtLady Macbethhad it.
But when I explained the plot they thought I was crazy.
And how do you go about explaining that to your actors?
How do you get them to be so funny in these traumatic scenes?
NYONI:You get funny people.
I try and make the script funny because you need it for finance.
you better pitch the tone, but I always find people funnier than me.
You dont need to do anything to manipulate it.
She is just from another world.
So she makes things funny without trying.
But I never tell them I want to make a funny film.
I do say I dont want you to be earnest.
If it starts getting a bit too serious I rethink things because I start to feel like Im preaching.
I generally just put the actors in the situation.
That helps tease out some of the absurd things.
DEADLINE: You were raised in Wales?
NYONI:Yes, Cardiff.
DEADLINE: Its rare for a European filmmaker of African heritage to go back home and make films.
Why have you started that way?
NYONI:I ask myself this all the time because I get frustrated.
Its more difficult to get financing and its always a difficult shoot.
I think it has to do with the fact that I romanticize Zambia.
I still have this yearning for it.
Also, I just feel somehow blocked in the UK.
I have a lot of half ideas that never go anywhere that are set in Cardiff.
But somehow when I set the story in Zambia, I write more.
Its a pragmatic thing.
Also, maybe its the fact that I want to work with comedy.
And Zambia has more of a space to do that because were more direct and cutting.
Shooting this film I said to myself that I definitely will not do another film in Zambia.
But Im already going back.
Its early days but I might be going back.
DEADLINE: How did you feel after I Am Not A Witch blew up?
I guess you became, quite quickly, one of the leading faces of a new generation.
NYONI:I didnt think about it that way.
I dont feel that way.
I watched an interview with Ridley Scott and he said when making films youre always starting over.
He said he always has to re-pitch himself to financiers.
But hes Ridley Scott.
I feel the same way now making my second film.
You dont feel that acclaim.
You just feel like a small cog in the wheel.
I look back on that time fondly.
I remember being a bit overwhelmed and having some distrust about it.
DEADLINE: Has Guinea Fowl screened in Zambia?
NYONI:Yeah, they showed it for one night during a festival.
DEADLINE: Whats the theatrical situation there?
Will it get further screenings?
NYONI:Were supposed to have an African distributor.
I dont know this distributor and I dont think theyre going to be interested in Zambia.
No ones ever interested.
Its such a small market.
We even offered as the local producers to distribute it ourselves, but they wont let us do that.
I dont think its going to happen.
I think that one night is probably all were going to get.
Most people will probably just see it when its sold to Netflix at some point, which is sad.
Africa is not a market for them unless its Nigeria or South Africa.
DEADLINE: What do people in Zambia think about you?
NYONI:Depends on who you ask.
Theres one colleague I worked with closely on set.
He became my right-hand man and did multiple jobs.
I said, Im sorry what?
Im not on social media, so I avoid all the carnage.
I just dont have a sense of these things.
But you do hear murmurs.
People just think youre privileged because youre British.
They dont realize the fights were fighting in Britain.
They think youve got some sort of lucky break.
Im the equivalent of the white dude.
So whatever criticism comes from that, you have to accept it.
I always think thats an odd phrase.
Im not so sure what it means.
What do you think about being included in that bunch?
This also goes back to why people perceive you as privileged.
There have been many more before me.
And I think its true, its this proximity to Europeanness or Westerners.
I see them all the time on M-Net.
If films dont exist in proximity to Hollywood or Britain people think they dont exist.
No, I dont think theres renaissance.
There have been so many filmmakers before me.
DEADLINE: You mentioned projects in Zambia and Botswana.
When youre done with the Guinea Fowl releases are you heading straight into those.
She lost her director and asked my partner to direct it.
But Im thinking of co-directing.
Its still early days.
I will definitely co-write.
Its set in Zambia amongst a super wealthy family.
Im interested in that world of total wealth in Zambia.
That 1% of the country is really white.
Im interested in a white world in Zambia.
I just find that fascinating.
The project in Botswana is something Ive been wanting to do now for a few years.
