The Boy who Harnessed The Wind is based on the real life story of William Kamkwamba, who as a boy of 14 built a windmill with parts from his father’s bicycle, to create a water flow system during a deadly drought in his village of Kasunga, Malawi against impossible odds.
Following the screening will be a conversation with Casting Director Alexa L. Fogel and Maxwell Simba Owino, who was cast and played the role of William after an extensive international search, while attending secondary school in Nairobi, Kenya, at the age of 15. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to find out what happens behind the scenes in film casting, and to hear a young actor reflect on his first film!
Maxwell has just graduated from Dartmouth College. Fogel and Kathryn Zamora-Benson, who was the Associate Casting Director on the film, attended his commencement ceremony in June. According to Zamora-Benson, “Everyone involved in the film is very proud of him, as is his mum and sisters back home. It has been a wonderful journey.”
UK/Malawi/USA/Kenya | 2019 | 1h 53m
Directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor
Starring Maxwell Simba Owino, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Aïssa Maïga, Noma Dumezweni, Lily Banda, Joseph Marcell
