Venturing into the stark landscapes of northern Kenya to document the lives of the Turkana-Ngaremara community was an undertaking that brought me face-to-face with the devastating impacts of climate change. Over four consecutive years of record low rainfall, I embarked on a journey with a brilliant team—including directors Andrew H Brown and Moses Thuranira, as well as Taylor Rees, who led the female story thread—to bring the story of "Between the Rains" to life.
From the moment we arrived, we threw ourselves into the heartbeat of this incredible community. We captured everything from dusty soccer matches and heart-wrenching local funerals, to intimate moments of goat herding and the struggle to secure life-giving water sources. What emerged was the resilience and indomitable spirit of the Turkana-Ngaremara people.
The film centers around the deeply personal coming-of-age tale of Kole, a powerful character who embodies the interconnectedness between humanity and nature. To me, he became more than just a subject; he was a vivid reminder of why telling these stories is so crucial.
Our efforts were recently recognized at the Tribeca Film Festival, where we won awards for Best Feature Documentary and Best Cinematography. While the accolades are an honor, the true reward for me has been the ability to give voice to a community confronting immense challenges, yet refusing to break. This project stands as a testament to the strength of storytelling, and I'm deeply committed to continuing to shed light on these important issues.
