Matthew Bishanga

Biography

Matthew Bishanga, professionally known as Matt Bish, is a Ugandan filmmaker and the founder of Bish Films. After studying architecture at Makerere University, he pursued digital filmmaking at the SAE Institute in Amsterdam. He briefly worked for Sony England at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam and freelanced on various film projects in the Netherlands. In 2005, he returned to Uganda to establish Bish Films with his brother, Roger Mugisha. His debut feature, Battle of the Souls (2007), is considered Uganda's first feature film and garnered international recognition. He followed up with State Research Bureau (2011), which also received critical acclaim. Bish has directed several short films, including A Good Catholic Girl (2010), co-produced with Focus Features, and Cut That Thing (2012). His work has been showcased at various international film festivals, earning accolades and nominations. Committed to nurturing Uganda's film industry, Bish actively mentors aspiring filmmakers and lectures on filmmaking in Kampala. He advocates for Ugandan films to be recognized under unique identifiers like "Ugawood" or "Nile Films," reflecting the country's distinct cinematic voice.