According to a 2020 study by the Centre for the Study of Women in Television and Film, 67% of films employed 0-4 women in the roles of director and producer.

Because women are still being perceived as incapable in most male dominated roles, Eleanor Nansibo Nabwiso defied the odds by starting up her own production company called Nabwiso films alongside her husband. She leads the team as director and producer.

In recognition of her great work, she was awarded for being the Best Actress in TV Drama in the Uganda Film Festival 2019. She was also nominated and won the London Arthouse Film Festival Award plus Africa Focus Award for Best Feature Film, both for the film; Bed of Thorns.

Her acting and film producing journey started when she was a teenager. During her senior six vacation holidays, she was selected to present a weekend program, K-Files on WBS TV. However much she pursued a different course of study at university, it didn’t stop her dream from coming true. She put her Information Technology degree aside and returned to acting.

Eleanor rose to fame after her role in The Hostel series, a drama series showing how university students survive temptations while keeping their lives together.

In 2016, she directed her first ever film; The rain, a drama film that encourages hope even in the hardest situations. This won her five awards at the Pearl International Film Awards.

In 2019, Eleanor directed an all-female crew film Bed of thorns, a film mainly dedicated to ending domestic violence. This particular film won her four awards at the Uganda Film Festival.

Since her take-off, Eleanor has been producing relentlessly while acting at the same time. Their latest TV series Family is another award-winning work that has become a household favourite.

She is an excellent, poised actress who has appeared on several films as an actress including Watch over me, The rain, Beneath the lies, Prickly roses, 24 hours, Kyaddala, Reach a Hand series and many more.

During a media interview, when asked why she chose film, Nabwiso confidently said;

“The adventure and diversity in film got me interested in the industry. The fact that you can act like anyone or tell someone’s story and make others believe it is amazing. It is also amazing to know that you can express yourself through film to the rest of the world.”

Nabwiso also believes in changing people’s lives through film because film doesn’t only entertain, but it also educates.

“Film gives us the freedom of expression and speech, which is why we will always put out messages that societies deem taboo or private yet they need to be addressed,” she explained. Some of these issues include early marriages, gender-based violence, and drug abuse among others.

She also applauded the fact that there are many women joining and thriving in the film industry in Uganda despite the previous male dominance.

While females still face stereotypes in the filmmaking industry, women like Eleanor Nabwiso, Nana Kaaga, Sarah Kisauzi, Milka Irene Soobya and Ann Kansiime among many others have pushed through the ceiling and stood out as game changers in society.

Overall, Eleanor Nabwiso juggles family, work and production and still is recognised and awarded for her excellent production. This confirms that marriage and children are not a limiting factor and as such shouldn’t let you put your dreams on hold.