Synopsis
JOHN, a pastor and evangelist in a Muslim country in Africa. I met my wife in our underground church, where we met in secret. When I married a woman from a different country, we knew it would be difficult because our tribes are enemies, but God gave us unity in our marriage. While she was pregnant with our first child, ethnic tensions escalated, and my wife was forced to flee to another country. I tried to follow her, but at the border, someone recognized me as a Christian and I was arrested. As a Christian in prison, I endured extra interrogations and beatings. The guards tried to get me to give up names of other Christians.
We worked in the fields during the day and were confined in handcuffs and legcuffs at night. We worked barefoot, and our feet became cracked and swollen. The heat and humidity in the prison choked us. We were given enough food to stay alive, but just barely. We never received new clothes, so our clothes became sweaty rags.
After more than four years, I was released from prison. I was able to find my wife and finally meet my son. My son’s fifth birthday was the first one I celebrated with him. I will never forget the joy I felt on that day.
Yet the challenges continued, even after my family was reunited. The difficult economy makes life challenging for almost everyone, but especially for refugees. Jobs are scarce and famine continues to ravage the land. As refugees, we don’t have access to most jobs, healthcare, or school. For 11 years, my family has been fighting to survive here.
I praise God that we are not fighting alone. By faith, I agreed to pastor a refugee church. It is my joy to serve among my people, offering God’s hope in such dark times.
About
Komakech Daniel is an Award-Winning Ugandan Filmmaker, Trainer, DP, Producer, Virtual Reality/360-degree videos creator, and Entreprenuer.
Komakech Daniel was born on August 24, 1986 to Mr. Nyeko Richard Acellam. He currently lives in Gulu City, where he started his film career by learning jow to write film scripts and music video scripts in 2008. His passion for filmmaking led him to produce more than 20 music videos before he co-founded the Gulu Film Production formerly United Youth Entertainment organization in May 2010.
Komakech Daniel was born on August 24, 1986 to Mr. Nyeko Richard Acellam. He currently lives in Gulu City, where he started his film career by learning jow to write film scripts and music video scripts in 2008. His passion for filmmaking led him to produce more than 20 music videos before he co-founded the Gulu Film Production formerly United Youth Entertainment organization in May 2010.
With his film organization, Komakech Daniel produced his debut feature film, "The Corrupted Minds," in February 2011. Since then, his films have received recognition and accolades at various film festivals. For instance, his script "Breaking the Walls" was selected to represent Uganda at the ZIFF 2013 scriptwriting competition sponsored by EAC and GIZ in Zanzibar. In 2014, his short film "Crying for Help" won the Best Short Film award at the Uganda Film Festival organized by the Uganda Communications Commission.
In June 2016, Komakech Daniel was appointed the festival director for the Gulu International Film Festival, an annual event that takes place at Taks Community Art Center-Gulu. He has also received grants and funding for his film projects, including the Kuonyesha Art Fund in 2021, Africa XR Micro-grant in 2022, and the UNDP Creative Challenge Call in 2022. Moreover, he is a trainer at the SiSi Film Lab-Gulu a film training program, where he shares his skills and expertise with aspiring filmmakers. Komakech has extensive filmography that showcases his skills in various aspects of filmmaking. He has worked as a writer, director, editor, cinematographer, and producer on several projects.
Through his work, Komakech Daniel has become a prominent figure in the Ugandan film industry. Over the last 15 years, he has demonstrated his ability to tell compelling stories that resonate with audiences both locally and internationally. With his passion and dedication to filmmaking, he continues to inspire and motivate aspiring filmmakers to pursue their dreams.
In June 2016, Komakech Daniel was appointed the festival director for the Gulu International Film Festival, an annual event that takes place at Taks Community Art Center-Gulu. He has also received grants and funding for his film projects, including the Kuonyesha Art Fund in 2021, Africa XR Micro-grant in 2022, and the UNDP Creative Challenge Call in 2022. Moreover, he is a trainer at the SiSi Film Lab-Gulu a film training program, where he shares his skills and expertise with aspiring filmmakers. Komakech has extensive filmography that showcases his skills in various aspects of filmmaking. He has worked as a writer, director, editor, cinematographer, and producer on several projects.
Through his work, Komakech Daniel has become a prominent figure in the Ugandan film industry. Over the last 15 years, he has demonstrated his ability to tell compelling stories that resonate with audiences both locally and internationally. With his passion and dedication to filmmaking, he continues to inspire and motivate aspiring filmmakers to pursue their dreams.