On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl is a 2024 comedy drama film written and directed by Rungano Nyoni.

The film competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on 16 May 2024.

Premise
On an empty road in the middle of the night, Shula stumbles across the body of her uncle. As funeral proceedings begin around them, she and her cousins bring to light the buried secrets of their middle-class Zambian family.

Cast

 * Elizabeth Chisela as Nsansa
 * Henry B.J. Phiri as Dad
 * Susan Chardy as Shula

Production
The film is written & directed by Rungano Nyoni and developed by BBC Film and Element Pictures. Financing came from A24 alongside BBC Film and Fremantle. David Gallego is the cinematographer on the project, and Malin Lindholm is the production designer. Producers include Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures. Production was reported to have begun in October 2022.