Ugandan Filmmakers Pitch Snowfall Allegory at Locarno's Open Doors Program
Talemwa Pius and producer Emmanuel Gashumba unveiled their in-development feature A Vineyard for a Lobster, a political allegory about an impossible snowfall in a Ugandan village, at the 2026 Open Doors co-production market.
At Locarno’s 2026 Open Doors co-production forum, director Talemwa Pius and producer Emmanuel Gashumba presented A Vineyard for a Lobster, a feature-length drama set in the fictional Ugandan village of Rukumba. The narrative imagines an impossible snowfall that disrupts a prolonged drought, prompting a trader, a disgraced preacher and a village chairman to vie for control while British envoys offer scientific aid in exchange for access to the snow.
The filmmakers describe the tale as a metaphor for how colonial-era structures continue to shape authority and belief in Uganda. The project secured an Open Doors Grant, positioning it for further development and potential financing. Pius and Gashumba intend to finalize the screenplay, explore a short-film version, and launch an impact campaign to engage communities worldwide on themes of external influence and communal responsibility.
Why it matters
The film uses a surreal premise to examine how lingering colonial influences affect governance and community cohesion in Uganda and beyond.
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