Elly E. Debuni

Elly E. Debuni is an award winning Ugandan filmmaker and poet from Lira City in Northern Uganda. His work spans independent film production, creative writing, poetry, marketing and distribution coordination, and creative community development. He is interested in stories that explore identity, resilience, relationships, and the lived realities of communities, particularly in Northern Uganda. He wrote, directed, and produced Hurdles of Hope (2024), a sports drama rooted in Northern Uganda that received international festival recognition. He also worked as one of seven producers on You May Kiss The Bride Goodbye (2025), a psychological thriller feature produced under Opportunities Are Here Uganda, a project by the International Trade Centre, funded by the European Union. Through One Stand Production, he leads marketing and distribution activities and has supported countrywide screenings of the film. The production later secured an international distribution agreement with Okada Media. Outside filmmaking, Elly is the founder of Lira Kreativ Kave, a creative community initiative based in Lira that creates platforms for artists through poetry, performances, and cultural activities. He has performed at poetry and arts platforms across Uganda and won the Ladu Poetry Slam in April 2025. His community-oriented creative work also includes engagement with Elders Creative Circle, a brain-health awareness project under the Memory Mosaics Initiative. Elly is an iKon Awards Young Filmmaker's Fellow of the 2025–2026 cohort and has completed the British Council's SoCreative E-Learning programme, which focuses on creative entrepreneurship and sustainable creative businesses.