Joe Bunyan is an independent writer and director of drama, comedy and documentary films.

His debut documentary feature, Gitonga (2020), premiered to 1.4 million people in Kenya on national television, received critic and public acclaim worldwide, and won Best Documentary at the Pan-African Kisima Film Awards 2020. The film also headlined at Banff International Film Festival 2020 and Kendal Mountain Film Festival 2020.  

Gitonga was described as 'life-enhancing' by Neil Norman (Independent), a 'great film that needs to be seen' (Baz Bamigboye, Daily Mail), and as a story whose 'every second oozes inspiration' by the Kenyan Film Commission.

Through his work, Joe intends to explore the beauty and complexities of people, perspectives and the world itself. In a time of deep polarisation, 24 hour news cycles, and an increasing intolerance of different perspectives, he hopes his work can help build bridges between people and give a platform to unsung heroes and different perspectives that need to be heard.

BACKGROUND

Joe began his film career as a floor runner in 2017. He worked on various BBC, Channel 4, ITV and Channel 5 productions and worked his way up to the position of edit producer before setting up his own production company, Ginger Lobster Productions, in late 2018.

Alongside this, he was provisioned to do the photography for major productions such as Damned (Channel 4) and Hetty Feather (BBC).

Outside of film, Joe is a co-director of the Kennedy Scholarship Foundation in Kenya, which provides free education for Congolese refugees at Kennedy School, Kitengela. He is a volunteer teacher at the school, delivering online mentorship classes once a week with his partner Ruth.