Director / Writer

Joe Njagu, born 7 October 1982, the award winning Writer/Director come on board exercising vast experience in independent film making, cutting across all production levels. Highly equipped with a burning passion and appreciation for art, Joe Njagu brings to life the self written screenplay for The Gentleman. The South African trained Writer/Director established himself as the future of Zimbabwean film through his first comedy debut: “LOBOLA, 2010,” by far one of the best-selling Zimbabwean films, grossing over R500 000 in the first three months of release.

Highly inspired by Hollywood director, Chris Nolan, Joe believes The Gentleman is a new chapter of African cinema as the storyline, the acting, the pace and the overall ‘fell’ of the film surpasses the usual ‘folktales’ synonymous with African films. The Gentleman is a commercial film. It’s a brand. A brand that is tied with other brands: Munyaradzi Chidzonga (BBA, 2010), Presley Chweneyegau (Tsotsi, 2009) and the Kenyan shell-bomb Sheila Kwamboka (BBA, 2010).

Trivia

• Best Director: Documentary, Jabula Film, Festival, 2009
• Accolade: Jury President, Zimbabwe International Film Festival, 2009
• Credits: “Bitter Pill” – Writer/Producer
• “Sores of Emmanuel” – Assistant Director/co-producer
• “Lobola” – Writer/Producer
• “The Gentleman” – Writer/Producer
• If not writing/directing Joe loves watching movies all day.