Oshosheni Hiveluah


Oshosheni Hiveluah was a Namibian writer, producer and director. The award winning film maker was listed among the Media Institute of Southern Africa 2015 top ten women to watch in media. She was known for the award winning films "Tjitji the Himba Girl" and "100 Bucks". "Tjitji the Himba Girl" won the cinematography and narrative film awards at the Namibian Theatre and Film awards in 2014. The film "100 Bucks" scooped the Focus Features Africa first program prize in 2011. "100 Bucks" bagged the 2012 Namibian Theatre and film Audience choice, Best Director, Best Production Design, Best Screenplay and Best Film awards. Oshosheni co-wrote the short film "100 Bucks" with Onesmus Shimfaweni, the film focuses on a 100 dollar note that passes through characters in diverse social communities.

Background and education

Oshosheni was born in Namibia and raised in Germany, her family returned to Namibia post Independence . Oshosheni completed her secondary school education at the Deutsche Höhere Privatschule in Namibia. She is a graduate of the City Varsity Multi Media School in Cape Town. Oshosheni also studied Advanced TV Documentary under the Fulbright Alumni at the Namibia University of Science and Technology.

Career

Oshosheni's career began with her debut student film "Tilula's fate" which won the audience choice award at the Wild Cinema Film Festival in 2004. She founded the "Shooting stars agency" in 2010 and the Windhoek - Harare based company Digital Afros, she also headed the NGO called Emoona Cultural Foundation. In 2011 Oshosheni was the recipient of the Focus Features Africa first program prize for the film "100 Bucks". The multiple award winning "100 Bucks" was showcased in London by the non profit organization AfricAvenir Windhoek as well as in New York in 2012 at the African Diaspora International Film Festival . Her award winning film "Tjitji the Hamba Girl" is recognized for breaking stereotypes against women, the film received special mention at the Bangalore Short film festival in Bangalore, India in 2015. "Tjitji the Himba girl " was also the official short film at Africa International Film Festival in  2015. Oshosheni was a member of the jury at the 2019 Namibia Theater and Film awards. She is remembered for art exhibitions such as The Evoking Origin and the films "Omeva" and "Cries at Night". She was working on the Southern African project 2019 the Viallage tap at the time of her death.