Jasiri
PRODUCION TEAM MANAGER
Run Time: 30:02
Genre: Drama
Langauge: Kiswahili English [English .srt available]
I was commissioned through on behalf of PEPFAR , the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief to produce a short film to celebrate their 20th Anniversary that was centered around the subject matter of HIV/AIDS prevention. They requested that these films be related to- but not centered on- being able to live with a positive HIV Status in Tanzania.
Jasiri is an invigorating tale following presidential candidate Rose Ambani as she attempts to represent her party to become the first Female Tanzanian President. On election eve, she receives a call threatening to expose a secret that could ruin her campaign. She has a big decision to make, after advising her council; she goes back to where it all began. She chooses to stand firm in her beliefs, leaving the verdict to those she loves, her people.
Challenging Narratives
Joining a crew where five projects were commissioned by the US Embassy was already exciting, but having full creative control made it even better. This project tackled challenging topics; namely, nominating a Tanzanian female president, adultery and corruption. In one scene, a minister says, "Tanzanian people are like sheep, they go where they are led" which sparked chatter at the premiere with the seating actual Minister of Affairs. Though challenging, tackling narratives like this is crucial for normalizing the integration of people with HIV/AIDS into society. Negative stereotypes often lead to ostracism, stemming from ignorance. Therefore, we chose to address the topic in a way that avoided victimizing the protagonist, aiming instead to foster understanding and acceptance. I was proud to accept this film award on behalf of the crew at Sauti Zetu Film Festival in 2023.
