So many Zambian films have kept us entertained over the last few years, some we have come to call classics. With up-and-coming filmmakers and stalwarts alike contributing to an ever-changing film landscape, we have a great pool to pick from.
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
If only On Becoming a Guinea Fowl was cool slang for looking great, because this film definitely is. Directed by Zambian-Welsh filmmaker Rungano Nyoni, who won Best Director in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, this is a must-watch for its authentic storyline, striking cinematography and luring drama. If the title does not pique your interest, the riveting story will keep you.
Here, "becoming a guinea fowl" draws on the bird's real behaviour: guinea fowls make a loud, far-carrying call when predators are near, alerting every other animal within earshot. That quality sits right at the heart of the film. We follow Shula, played with quiet, controlled power by Susan Chardy, who won a British Independent Film Award for the role, as she discovers her Uncle Fred lying dead on an empty road late one night and almost immediately calls her family rather than the police. What unfolds over the funeral proceedings that follow is a reckoning. Buried truths about abuse, silence and the performance of grief slowly surface, and the women in the family, the cousins, the wailing aunties, the ones who insist the dead man's reputation must be protected, become the real subject of the film. Nyoni folds dark comedy and surrealism into the everyday until the line between the absurd and the unbearable dissolves. This film will shake you to the core.
Contravene
Wyclif Mwamba, filmmaker, writer, producer and comedian, sold his land and his car to fund this one, and over 2,000 people queued at Levy Cinemas for its premiere on 31st May 2025. The trailer alone clocked over 500,000 views on Facebook before release night.
Contravene is a crime drama that carries real emotional weight. Mwamba wrote the script in eight hours, fuelled by personal frustration, and shot the whole thing in three days, which makes the finished product all the more impressive. It stars Hellen Kaumba and Kausa Mbasela and was dedicated to the late music producer Cream Dollar, a close friend of Mwamba's who passed in 2020. Industry stalwart DJ Showshar called it one of the best Zambian films ever made. Whether or not you take that as gospel, the numbers do not lie: the audiences showed up, the reviews were warm, and the conversation it started about what Zambian cinema can be was very much worth having. This one earns its place on the list.
Prank: Joke's on You
One of the most anticipated Zambian films of the year, PRANK: Joke’s On You, is set to raise the bar for local cinema. The film marks a major moment for director Besta Phiri, who brings over a decade of experience as a cinematographer and editor to his directorial debut. While it leans into comedy, the film goes beyond a simple prank storyline, exploring deeper themes that have already started generating buzz following its recent feature on the Duwit podcast and Kwacha Kuseni.
Even before its release, the film has drawn attention for its strong production quality and clear creative direction, signs of a growing ambition in Zambian filmmaking. Joke’s On You premiered on 24th April, at Nu Metro Cinema at Arcades, a release that reflects the growing confidence of Zambia’s film industry.
