Principal production on the untitled directorial debut of Chiwetel Ejiofor, BAFTA Award-winning actor, is underway in Malawi. Ejiofor wrote and will star in the project, adapted from the book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, written by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer.

Chiwetel Ejiofor said: "William's story represents what has to be the future in countries like Malawi: developing countries, overflowing with beauty, and with potential which simply needs access to opportunity in order to be fully unleashed. William's determination and inventiveness created something that not only meant the end of the hungry season for his community, it also catapulted him into a future where all his potential could be realised.” He continued: "I want this to be a film that allows people to see that Malawi, and the world, will be all the better for everything William and those like him are able to contribute when they have the opportunities they urgently need to carve out their own extraordinary destinies."

Potboiler Productions’ Andrea Calderwood (The Last King of Scotland) and Gail Egan (A Most Wanted Man) are producing the film. Participant’s Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King will executive produce with BBC Films’ Joe Oppenheimer, the BFI’s Natascha Wharton and authors Kamkwamba and Mealer.

The film follows 13-year-old William Kamkwamba (newcomer Maxwell Simba) who is thrown out of the school he loves when his family can no longer afford the fees. Sneaking back into the school library, he finds a way, using the bones of the bicycle belonging to his father Trywell (Ejiofor), to build a windmill which then saves his village from famine. The emotional journey of a father and his exceptional son at its heart, William’s tale captures the incredible determination of a boy whose inquisitive mind overcame every obstacle in his path. Key themes from the film aim to raise awareness around environmental sustainability and the power of education.

In addition to Ejiofor and Simba, the cast features Lily Banda as William’s older sister Annie; Noma Dumezweni (Hermione in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) as Edith Sikelo, the librarian who helped bring William’s story to public attention; Aissa Maiga (Anything for Alice) as William’s mother Agnes; Joseph Marcell (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) as Chief Wimbe; and Lemogang Tsipa (Eye in the Sky) as teacher Mike Kachigunda.

Industry talent involved in the film include includes Academy Award®-nominated and BAFTA Award-nominated cinematographer Dick Pope (Mr. Turner), production designer Tulé Peak (City of God), costume designer Bia Salgado (City of God) and editor Valerio Bonelli (Philomena).

Participant Media, BBC Films and BFI, with funds from the National Lottery, are lead financiers on the project, along with Head Gear, Econet and LipSync. Participant will be handling the sale of North American distribution rights, while Cornerstone Films will oversee international sales and distribution in all other territories. Econet will handle Sub-Saharan African distribution.

About Chiwetel Ejiofor
Ejiofor has starred in recent successful releases including Doctor Strange, The Martian, and 12 Years a Slave, for which his leading performance garnered him an Academy Award® nomination and his BAFTA Award win. He is represented by CAA and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof and Fishman. He is represented in the UK by Alex Irwin with Markham Frogatt & Irwin. Casarotto Ramsay & Associates represent Ejiofor worldwide for directing and writing.

About Participant Media
Participant Media is the leading media company dedicated to entertainment that inspires and compels social change. Founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll, Participant’s content combines the power of a good story well told with opportunities for real world impact and awareness around the most pressing global issues of our time. Participant’s more than 75 films, including Spotlight, Contagion, Lincoln, The Help, He Named Me Malala, The Look of Silence, Citizenfour, Food, Inc., and An Inconvenient Truth, have collectively earned 52 Academy Award® nominations and 11 wins, including Best Picture for Spotlight. Participant’s digital entertainment division, SoulPancake is an award-winning provider of thought-provoking, joyful, and uplifting digital content including such widely popular series as Kid President and The Science of Happiness and reaches an audience of nearly 9 million fans.

About BBC Films
BBC Films is at the forefront of independent filmmaking in the UK, developing and co-producing around twelve films a year. In 2015 BBC Films was awarded the Michael Balcon BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema. Rose Garnett is the Director of BBC Films.
Upcoming films include Andy Serkis’ directorial debut, Breathe, starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, which opened the BFI London Film Festival and was released in the UK by STX international on 27 October, Lionsgate's On Chesil Beach starring Saoirse Ronan which made its world premiere in Toronto, and Apostasy, directed by first time filmmaker Daniel Kokotajlo, to be released by Curzon following autumn festival debuts in Toronto, San Sebastian and most recently the BFI London Film Festival.
Other titles on their slate include eOne's The Children Act featuring Emma Thompson and Stanley Tucci and the documentary Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami, which was released in UK cinemas on 27 October through Trafalgar Releasing. Currently in production are The White Crow directed by Ralph Fiennes, Denmark starring Rafe Spall and Out of Blue directed by Carol Morley and starring Patricia Clarkson.
BBC Films in post-production include Yardie, Idris Elba’s directorial debut, Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir executive produced by Martin Scorsese, Stan & Ollie starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly, The Aftermath with Keira Knightley and Alexander Skarsgård and VS. starring Screen’s Star of Tomorrow, Connor Swindells.
Their pre-production slate includes Peter Strickland’s ghost story In Fabric starring Oscar nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Gypsy Boy with Benedict Cumberbatch, set to shoot in 2018.