Rungano Nyoni is a BAFTA Cymru Award winning director. Born in Lusaka, Zambia she moved to South Wales, UK when she was 10 years old. She gained a degree in business studies at the University of Birmingham, graduating with honours. She then moved to London to pursue a career in acting, taking informal classes at the Method Studio, London. She went on to more formal acting training at Central St Martins College of the Arts, studying Screen Acting at The Drama Centre London.
During her Masters degree her desire to pursue a career in acting waned as her interest in producing and directing her own films grew. The first film she directed ‘The List’ went on to win a BAFTA Cymru in 2010. That same year she was picked to take part in a New Directors scheme with BBC Wales and Its My Shout production company, where she directed ‘20 Questions’ which went on to win multiple awards.
In 2010, she was awarded finance from Focus Features Africa First programme and UK Film Council for a short she wrote, directed and produced called ‘Mwansa The Great’, which she shot in Zambia. Mwansa The Great was premiered in March 2011 at Cineposible Film Festival and has been awarded 4 prizes, and made appearences at 19 Film Festivals worldwide.
