Line about myself
Makela Pululu was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo/Kinshasa in 1965. He arrived in Cape Town as a refugee in 1998 fleeing from the ravaging war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). With a fervent enthusiasm for filming, he leapt into the Filming industry as a Freelance best boy and Lighting Workshop Supervisor at MCC (Movie Camera Company) in Cape Town. Following his love and passion for Film, this ultimately resulted in Makela producing and directing his very first Documentary called "Being African" in 2002. This short documentary received positive feedback at the Zanzibar and Zimbabwe Film Festivals and the Africa Film Festival in Belgium. In 2005 Makela produced and directed a 24 minute Documentary "A Shadow of Hope'' reflecting on the plight of refugees living in South Africa. In 2007, he directed a 15 minute documentary "Amina My Daughter" which was selected to form part of the South Africa and Swedish co-production: the Ikon South Africa: Basement Bioscope series. "Amina My Daughter" was chosen to premiere at the 2007 Tri Continental Film Festival. Makela was selected to participate in the 2008 Berlinale Talent Campus. Makela's documentary proposal "Forgotten Gold" was one of the 12 chosen projects for the 2008 Berlinale Doc Station from over 3300 applicants from 120 countries. Makela was selected to receive three month documentary making course in the UK at the Made in Africa workshop during INPUT 2008 based on his proposal, Forgotten Gold. During his stay in the UK Makela directed a film for Channel 4's 3 Minute Wonders as part of the series, Foreign Correspondents. Makela recently directed a multi camera TV game show for Turbo King in Congo and produced by the PYGMA Group to be broadcast in Congo Kinshasa and Congo Brazzeville.


FILMS AND AWARDS
2003
Being African
- Zimbabwe International Film Festival (Zimbabwe) 2003 - Zanzibar International Film Festival (Zanzibar) 2004
- Afrika Film International (Belgium)

2005
A Shadow Of Hope
- SITHENGI International Film Festival (S.A) 2005
- Tri Continents Film Festival as World premiere. (SA & India) 2006
- Durban International Film Festival 2006
- PEACE BOAT 52nd Global voyage for where the filmmakers were invited as a guest educator (Kenya/Japan) 2006
- DITSHWANELO Human Rights Film Festival (Botswana) 2006
- The 6th APOLLO Film Festival (South Africa) 2006
- African Film Festival New York (USA) 2006
- African Film Festival (Belgium) 2006
- Zambia International Film Festival (Zambia) 2007
- Rwanda International Film Festival (Rwanda) 2007
- Ziff Zanzibar International Film Festival (Tanzania)

2007/2008
Amina My Daughter
Creative Documentary - 15 minute
http://www.berlinale-talentcampus.de/campus/project/profile/26895
2007 - Tri Continents Film Festival as World premiere. (SA)

2008
Visiting The Future
Creative Documentary - 3 Min
http://www.berlinale-talentcampus.de/campus/project/profile/47963

2008
In our Shoes
Creative Documentary - 40 Min
http://www.berlinale-talentcampus.de/campus/project/profile/47964

2008
Silent Response
Creative Documentary - 18 Min
http://www.berlinale-talentcampus.de/campus/project/profile/47965

2009
Forgotten Gold
Creative Documentary - Feature, 70 min
http://www.berlinale-talentcampus.de/campus/project/profile/35848
Verona Film Festival, Italy, 2011

Makela"s recent work
2008
- Broadcast on SABC 2 as part of the Ikon South Africa: Basement Bioscope series Thomson Foundation Scholarship

2008
3month documentary making course in the UK at the Thomson Foundation Visiting the Future

2008
Directed short film, Visiting the Future, for Foreign Correspondents for the UK's Channel 4's 3Minute Wonders In our Shoes

2008
Directed 40min documentary about the plight of refugees in South Africa funded and commissioned by the Human Rights Media Centre, Cape Town, South Africa Turbo King

2008
Directed a 8camera TV Game Show for PYGMA Productions in Congo Kinshasa & Congo Brazzeville



Source:
www.berlinale-talentcampus.de/campus/talent/pulululuyeye-makela/profile