Aisha & Muzamil: A Short Film from Tamale, Ghana

Hi, my name is Senyo, and I’m fundraising for Junaid. Junaid lives and works in Ghana, which is currently an unsupported country on GoFundMe, so he asked me to set up the fundraiser on his behalf. Funds go directly to Junaid and his team based in Tamale, Ghana. Here is Junaid in his own words:

Our Story

Hello, my name is Junaid Timtooni Yakubu, and I am a filmmaker practicing in Tamale, Ghana. We’re currently developing our next short film, “Aisha & Muzamil,” and I am seeking your support to help us bring it to life.

Set in the vibrant city of Tamale, Ghana, our story follows a young girl named Aisha who ventures beyond her familiar surroundings and forms an unexpected bond with Muzamil, a homeless refugee.

"Aisha & Muzamil" explores themes of childhood exploration, identity, societal judgement, and the stark realities of a world not always as kind as we wish.

Characters

Our protagonist, Aisha, is a spirited and expressive young girl, cherished by her loving parents. Muzamil, an immigrant from a war-torn country, has come to Ghana seeking better opportunities but finds life challenging.

1. Aisha (8):

2. Muzamil (25):

3. Nurrideen (40):

4. Grandma (85):

5. Aisha’s Parents:

These characters, along with the contrasting dynamics of a rapidly modernizing yet deeply traditional city, come together to weave a tale that is close to our hearts.

Setting

Our film unfolds in Tamale, a city in northern Ghana. We aim to depict the city's unique character—modern yet traditional—and its inhabitants authentically.

Timeline

We've meticulously planned our timeline, encompassing pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution. We're currently in the pre-production phase, assembling our team, scouting locations, conducting auditions, and arranging costumes and props.

Inspiration

The script for "Aisha & Muzamil" was written in 2019. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to connect and collaborate with an exceptional community of young filmmakers on various self-funded, low-budget projects, which has honed our resource management skills and problem-solving creativity.

With "Aisha & Muzamil", we're ready to elevate our craft and share our story on a global stage, participating in film festivals and engaging with the worldwide film community.

Style

We plan to capture the natural aesthetic of Tamale with a minimalist style. Looking to films from Ousmane Sembene, Safi Faye’s “Mossane,” and Italian Neorealist Cinema for inspiration on how to depict our characters and the world of our story.

Impact

"Aisha & Muzamil" is not just a film—it's a platform for us to showcase our talent, collaborate with artists in Ghana and beyond, and also participate in film festivals worldwide.

I had the opportunity to attend the FESPACO in Burkina Faso back in 2021, as a visitor and it was a pleasure to see all the films screening in competition. It’s been my dream since then to have a film that we produce in Tamale screen at the FESPACO and other film festivals around the world. This will be highly encouraging for our local community of filmmakers.

Northern Ghana's film industry is underrepresented, with no movie theaters or film schools. Your support can help our team produce "Aisha & Muzamil", share it with global audiences, and potentially inspire new voices in our community.

How Can You Help?

Join us on this journey and help us bring this remarkable story to life. Your support will cover costs for equipment rentals, locations, costumes, props, feeding and transporting our cast and crew, and post-production essentials like editing, sound mixing, color grading, and music scoring, as well as submission to film festivals around the world.

Every contribution, big or small, brings us one step closer to realizing our vision.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to sharing our progress with you and, ultimately, the finished film.