London based creative studio KLOSS Films hosted an intimate movie screening in London last week, to showcase the talents of filmmakers Cherif Doumba and Ottawa Kwami, a young director duo known as SIOH.
Held at The May Fair Theatre in the heart of the capital, the inclusive event saw Doumba and Kwami present two short films, ‘One Day’ and ‘Kubolor’ – each created under the mentorship of KLOSS founder Alec Maxwell.
Shot on location with local crews in Ghana and Ivory Coast, and inspired by “youth, African culture, and the pursuit of ones dreams”, both clips feature original compositions by long-time KLOSS collaborators, HALE ZERO.
‘One Day’
‘One Day’ introduces audiences to Isaac and Acer – two young boys with big dreams, living in the former colonial town of Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast.
Coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, the boys parents have aspirations for their young sons to receive an education as a means to offer them an opportunity for a better life. Yet Isaac and Acer have plans to travel the world, and become successful away from their home.
This poignant short film captures a pivotal moment when Isaac and Acer delve into their “heritage, cultural roots, and religious beliefs”, discovering how these aspects shape their lives.
‘Kubolor’
‘Kubolor’ tells the story of Yhaw Phila, an aspiring young musician from the southern part of Ghana, Jamestown, who dreams of becoming one of the greatest rap artists of all time.
Despite feeling somewhat stifled by the very orthodox cultural values imposed upon him by society, a strong-willed, and defiant Yhaw refuses to remain a prisoner of tradition, and instead rallies hard against the rising tides of conformity to pursue his true passion and life purpose.
“I have always found storytelling through film to be an incredible connector, and am constantly inspired by new talent who share their vision and stories through the medium,” Alec Maxwell said.
“It’s been a pleasure to work closely with SIOH to bring their first two films to life and to be able to call upon resources and collaborators to screen the films.”
On working with Maxwell, and the entire KLOSS Films team, Cherif and Ottawa of SIOH say: “Collaborating with KLOSS has been an exciting way to show ourselves to the world.”
“The best way to let people know who we truly are is to show where we are from, how we grew and the reality that we have been raised on. This is our culture!”
To celebrate their directorial debut, an special after-party was held in the duos honour.
With the support of Don Julio, and a special performance from HALE ZERO, guests included Naomi Campbell, Sophia Hadjipanteli, Emma Thynn, Juliette Larthe, Karen Binns, Louis III, Deborah Ababio, MAINE Founder Joey Ghazal, Edward Enninful, and Sabrina Dhowre Elba.
