The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind


Maxwell Simba
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by Chiwetel Ejiofor
GBR 2018, Berlinale Special
© Ilze Kitshoff / Netflix

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Maxwell Simba
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by Chiwetel Ejiofor
GBR 2018, Berlinale Special
© Ilze Kitshoff / Netflix

Maxwell Simba, Lily Banda, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Aïssa Maïga
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by Chiwetel Ejiofor
GBR 2018, Berlinale Special
© Ilze Kitshoff / Netflix

Maxwell Simba
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by Chiwetel Ejiofor
GBR 2018, Berlinale Special
© Ilze Kitshoff / Netflix

Chiwetel Ejiofor
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by Chiwetel Ejiofor
GBR 2018, Berlinale Special
Actor and BAFTA winner Chiwetel Ejiofor has adapted William Kamkwamba’s autobiographical novel of the same name for his directorial feature film debut, in which he also turns in a compelling performance in the role of the father. A family drama that not only addresses the consequences of climate change and increasing industrialisation, but also reveals the connection between poverty and a lack of education.
With
- Chiwetel Ejiofor (Trywell Kamkwamba)
- Maxwell Simba (William Kamkwamba)
- Lily Banda (Annie Kamkwamba)
- Noma Dumezweni (Edith Sikelo)
- Aïssa Maïga (Agnes Kamkwamba)
- Joseph Marcell (Chief Wimbe)
- Lemogang Tsipa (Mike Kachigunda)
Crew
Written and Directed by | Chiwetel Ejiofor |
Cinematography | Dick Pope |
Editing | Valerio Bonelli |
Music | Antonio Pinto |
Sound Design | Rob Ireland |
Production Design | Tulé Peake |
Costumes | Bia Salgado |
Make-Up | Francesca Van Der Feyst |
Casting | Alexa Fogel |
Assistant Director | Stephen Carney |
Production Manager | Shiv Mandavia |
Producers | Andrea Calderwood, Gail Egan |
Executive Producers | Joe Oppenheimer, Rose Garnett, Natascha Wharton, Jeff Skoll, Jonathan King, Strive Masiyiwa, Payne Brown, Phil Hunt, Compton Ross, Peter Hampden, Norman Maerry |
Co-Producer | Donald Sabourin |
World Sales
Cornerstone Films
Produced by
Potboiler Productions

Dieter Kosslick, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Aïssa Maïga
Premiere in the Friedrichstadt-Palast.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind · Berlinale Special · Feb 12, 2019

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Aïssa Maïga, Maxwell Simba
The director and his actors at the Photo Call.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind · Berlinale Special · Feb 12, 2019

Aïssa Maïga
The actress at the Photo Call.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind · Berlinale Special · Feb 12, 2019

Chiwetel Ejiofor
The director at the Photo Call.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind · Berlinale Special · Feb 12, 2019

William Trywell Kamkwamba
The film is based on his autobiographical novel.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind · Berlinale Special · Feb 12, 2019

Chiwetel Ejiofor
The director at the Press Conference.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind · Berlinale Special · Feb 12, 2019

Aïssa Maïga, Maxwell Simba
The actors at the Press Conference.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind · Berlinale Special · Feb 12, 2019

Maxwell Simba
The actor at the Friedrichstadt-Palast.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind · Berlinale Special · Feb 12, 2019

Aïssa Maïga
The actress on the Red Carpet at the Friedrichstadt-Palast.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind · Berlinale Special · Feb 12, 2019

Chiwetel Ejiofor
A big welcome for the director at the Friedrichstadt-Palast.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind · Berlinale Special · Feb 12, 2019

Maxwell Simba
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind · Berlinale Special · Feb 12, 2019
© Gerhard Kassner / Berlinale

Aïssa Maïga
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind · Berlinale Special · Feb 12, 2019
© Gerhard Kassner / Berlinale

Chiwetel Ejiofor
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind · Berlinale Special · Feb 12, 2019
© Gerhard Kassner / Berlinale
Aïssa Maïga (Actress), Maxwell Simba (Actor), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Director, Screenwriter), William Kamkwamba (Author), Moderation: Jenni Zylka
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Berlinale Special · Press Conference · Feb 12, 2019
Chiwetel Ejiofor

Born in 1977 in London, UK to Nigerian parents, he is best known as an actor and has played roles including the title character in Twelve Years a Slave for which he was nominated for an Oscar. He most recently appeared in Garth David’s Mary Magdalene with Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix. Alongside his acting work in the theatre and for film and television, he has already written and made two short films that have screened at festivals. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is his debut feature film as a director.
Filmography (as director)
2008 Slapper; short film 2013 Columbite Tantalite; short film 2018 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2019