We were so elated when we heard our publisher, Android Press, was working with authors, actors, and producers in Nigeria on a really cool speculative fiction short film. Solarpunk Magazine itself has some connections with the crew as well.
The film’s screenplay writer and executive producer, Somto Ihezue, guest edited our 2023 all-BIPOC issue, he’s an associate editor at Escape Artists, Cast of Wonders, and Android Press, and his short stories have appeared in Africa Risen Anthology, Fireside Magazine, Podcastle, Escape Pod, Strange Horizons, POETRY Magazine, Cossmass Infinities, Flash Fiction Online, NIGHTMARE, Flame Tree Press, OnSpec Magazine, Omenana, Africa In Dialogue, The Year’s Best Anthology of African Speculative Fiction and others.
So of course, we want to support them as well by making sure you know about this really exciting project.
ON OUR SKIN is a short film about Nigerian students experiencing censorship of the books want to read, and the community reaction to messages of protest mysteriously appearing etched into their skin. This short film touches on themes of censorship and freedom of expression, as well as justice, feminism, and gender identity.
The film begins production this coming week in Lagos, Nigeria, and the producers recently launched a Kickstarter. They’re working to raise the remaining funds needed to get through post-production and ensure they can not just pay the actors, but pay them well.
The project is less than $2,000 away from it’s funding goal. And with your help they can get there by the end of this weekend!
You can pledge any amount that fits your budget, with pledge perks starting at the $20 level. And if you’ve ever wanted to be a movie producer (who hasn’t?), now is your chance! Producer credits are among the perks for pledges as low as $250, and if you don’t have an IMDB profile, they’ll make one for you. But producer credit tiers are limited to 10 or fewer backers, so if you’re interested in that particular perk it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get on it soon. Other perks include digital and DVD copies of the film, an exclusive backer viewing, signed copies of the screenplay, and more.
Click here to check out the Kickstarter campaign and support Nigerian speculative fiction!
Even if you’re unable to make a pledge at this time, they always appreciate when people share the link to the campaign to help spread the word!
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