Matt Bish (born 15 May 1975), also known as Matthew Bishanga, is a Ugandan filmmaker and the Creative Director at Bish Films. He directed the first Ugawood feature film, Battle of the Souls, in 2007.[1]

Matt Bish
Born15 May 1975 (1975-05-15) (age 49)
Uganda
Alma materMakerere University
Occupation(s)Filmmaker and creative director

Personal life and education

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The first of four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Bishanga, Bish obtained his early education in Uganda. There, as a boy, he grew to love film, attending the cinema but also being exposed to many movies at home with his family on his father's home video system. He credits his parents with inspiring his film career. After his primary education, he attended Makerere University in Kampala, where he studied architecture, before moving to the Netherlands in 1998 and studying digital filmmaking at the SAE Institute in Amsterdam.[2]

Career

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In 2005, Bish returned to Uganda to start an audiovisual production company "Bish Films Ltd" with his younger brother Roger Mugisha. At first limited to music videos, it soon branched out into films. Bish worked on his first feature film in 2006.[2] Battle of the Souls is the first feature film in Uganda.[1]

Bish Films produces TV commercials and documentaries, as well as films and music videos as they did when they first began. He believes Ugandan films that try to maintain quality should not be categorised as kina-Uganda (like ki-Nigeria) but rather Nile Films, Ugawood[2] or something else.

"A critic is someone who can't do what you do the way you do it..." - Matt Bish

Filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
2007 Battle of the Souls Writer, director, producer 105 Minutes, commonly referred to as 'Uganda's First Feature Film'; Official Selection: Kenya International Film Festival, Zanzibar International Film Festival, Verona International Film Festival, Pan African Film Festival (Los Angeles), Africa Movie Academy Awards (11 nominations, Won Best Visual Effects and Best Supporting Actor), Special Mention for Best African Film (KIFF, ZIFF, VIFF)
2011 State Research Bureau Director, producer 95 Minutes; Official Selection: African Film Festival Lagos (Nigeria), ZIFF, AMAA (2 nominations), KIFF, Pearl International Film Festival (7 nominations), Africa in the Picture International Film Festival Amsterdam 2012 (Winner Best Ugandan Feature Film, Cinematography, Producer, Screenplay and actor Awards at PIFF, Kampala)
2014 The Sircle Director 60 Minutes for M-Net Africa Magic Channel
2014 Playboy Director 60 Minutes for M-Net Africa Magic Channel
2014 No Lie Director 60 Minutes for M-Net Africa Magic Channel
Short films
Year Title Role Notes
2010 A Good Catholic Girl Writer, director, producer 26 Minutes, with the support of Focus Features in its Africa First Program; Official Selection: KIFF, ZIFF, VIFF 2011
2012 Cut That Thing Director, producer 14 Minutes, produced for Z.O.A.; Official Selection: Interfilm Berlin International Short Film Festival 2012, Kenya International Film Festival
Documentaries
Year Documentary Role Notes
2005 Vote National Resistance Movement Director, producer 5 Minutes, produced for Mary Kiseka
2005 The Journey of KMCC Director, producer

26 Minutes, for Kansanga Mirale Centre Church

2006 Celtel Uganda Director, producer 9 Minutes
2011 No Water No School Director, producer 3 Minutes, for UNHCR
2011 Picking Up The Pieces Director, producer 4 Minutes, produced for UNHCR
2011 Restoring Dignity Director, producer 3 Minutes, for UNHCR; Official Selection: Kenya International Film Festival 2011
2011 Returning Home Director, producer 5 Minutes, for UNHCR; Official Selection: Kenya International Film Festival 2011
2011 The Struggle To Live A Dignifying Life Director, producer 14 Minutes, produced for HelpAge International

References

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