Ali Musoke is a multifaceted Filmmaker and Artist whose work spans across various disciplines in the film industry. He is a skilled and talented Producer, Cinematographer, and Director with experience in both fiction and documentary filmmaking, as well as brand content production.

With over a decade of experience in the industry, Ali has honed his craft and is proficient in bringing creative ideas to fruition. His resourcefulness and innovation enable him to manage conceptual projects from inception to completion, resulting in inspiring works. Ali has written and directed four short films to date, including Connected (2016), Black and White (2019), Faded (2022), and The last shoemaker (2023) currently in post-production. He has also directed three episodes of a limited web series, Enno Laavu (2023), currently in post-production. In addition, he has produced over 12 short films and two feature films, Nothing Going on (2017) and Be A Good Girl (2022). Currently, Ali is producing two feature-length documentaries, ‘Kongo is burning’ and ‘Kange,’ which have been selected and invited to international film markets such as Durban filmmart in South Africa, DOK Leipzig in Germany, and Miradas Doc in Spain.

In 2014, Ali founded Stone Age Pictures, an independent, award-winning production company that specializes in developing, financing, and producing cross-platform content for audiences worldwide. Building on the success of Stone Age Pictures, Ali founded Film Possible, a non-profit foundation, in 2018. Film Possible is dedicated to providing comprehensive and year-round support to the next generation of African filmmakers. The foundation's mission is to empower emerging and established African filmmakers by sourcing funds for their productions, conducting film development labs and workshops, hosting screenings, and supporting film distribution.

Throughout his career, Ali has worked with a diverse range of clients, including the BBC, HBO, National Geographic, Google, Vice News, FSC, Facebook, among others. With a passion for creating thought-provoking and impactful content, Ali is continuously pushing the boundaries of storytelling in film, inspiring the next generation of filmmakers.

Director Statement

As a director, my intention with The Last Shoe Maker is to delve into the complex issues of neo-colonialism and exploitation in African artistic spaces. Through the lens of the protagonist's journey, we will explore how art, objects, and artists' lives are assigned value and who holds the power to decide this. We also delve into the power imbalances within our societies, and how they affect us socially, economically, and politically.

The Last Shoemaker is a parable that takes the audience from idealism to understanding. The protagonist, a charismatic and intelligent young woman, is determined to honour the legacy of her inheritance with the help of her grandmother's spirit. However, as her mother accurately perceives, the market place rejects her idealism, and cheaper, low-quality foreign products are deemed more valuable than locally-made, good quality, and durable products. This, unintentionally, assigns values that have severe consequences.

My aim with this project is to create work that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. I am interested in presenting new and fresh images of African life and African lives, presenting a recognizable place in a new way that challenges conventional thinking. I am particularly interested in exploring digital forms that can be seen worldwide and archived for future generations.

Ultimately, The Last Shoe Maker is a reflection on the future. It challenges us to think beyond what we know and to imagine what's next. This is the driving force behind this project, and I am excited to bring this story to life for audiences worldwide.

Fernando Gutiérrez holds a Ph.D. in Arts from UnB, with a focus on voice, performance, animation, and independent scene research. As a filmmaker, he has several short films to his credit, including "O Mascate" and "José." He directed and produced the feature film "O Sonho de Clarice," the first animated feature film made in the Federal District.

Guto Bicalho is a Director, Head of Story, and Storyboard Artist. He has directed the short films "Sangro" and "Fuga Animada" and also directed the feature film "O Sonho de Clarice." He served as a storyboard supervisor for the feature film "Perlimps" as well as for series on Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Gloob, Disney, and others.