Namibian filmmaker Imãn Ayisha is an emerging writer and producer making waves in the local film industry. 

Known for her passion for storytelling and culturally rooted narratives, she recently earned major recognition after co-producing ‘The B2 Passage’ with Tekla Nakale, and the short film won Best Short Film at the 2026 Namibia Theatre and Film Awards. 

Co-producer Ayisha said winning the award means a lot to her, adding that the recognition, celebration and support are deeply appreciated. 

“Professionally, it means I get to update my CV with a cool new point and get back to work much easier now that people are eager to work with an award-winning filmmaker. It means there are a lot more eyes on my work and a lot more interest from the market,” she said. 

She believes the recognition is particularly important on a professional level, as it honours creative work within a small, still-developing industry and signals credibility to funders, collaborators and international markets. With resources and visibility still limited in the creative sector, awards function as both cultural affirmation and economic leverage, helping local stories travel beyond borders. 

Ultimately, she says the achievement goes beyond individual success, contributing to the industry’s overall legitimacy, sustainability and global presence. 

A passion from childhood 

Ayisha comes from a diverse, multicultural background, which she tries to reflect in her work. Born in Lüderitz, she was raised by parents who prioritised education and instilled a love of reading from a young age. 

She grew up an extremely creative child, excelling in art and design and developing a deep love for literature and languages, which naturally led to storytelling. 

“As a child, I always knew I wanted to be a writer. I still have books that I illustrated and wrote out of glue and stapled paper in fourth grade. I wrote fanfiction about my favourite books and movies that went viral online, I wrote Wattpad books with my friends in my free time, got library cards at all the different cities my family moved around to, and I was running edit accounts on Instagram and TikTok where I made fan edits of movies,” she said. 

Reimagining a Namibian legend 

‘The B2 Passage’ is inspired by the legend of Namibia’s hitchhiking ghost bride, a story Ayisha grew up hearing from her southern coloured grandparents during travels between Lüderitz, Oranjemund and Swakopmund. 

The film explores the backstory and existence of the ghost bride beyond just a spooky figure in a folktale. It offers a new adaptation and interpretation, a more modern take aimed at preserving the legend for the next generation, while giving audiences something to ponder, question and learn from. 

Ayisha’s style and writing reflect her major inspiration in retro science fiction and fantasy, particularly ‘The Twilight Zone’, which explores themes such as time, superstition, obsolescence, identity and suburban nightmares. 

She said the title was always clear from the beginning. 

“Mostly it’s just a reference to the B2 road, but I chose the word ‘Passage’ specifically because it holds the connotation of journey, change, time passing and also a kind of threshold or crossing between worlds,” she explained. 

Themes 

The story centres on guilt and the recurring nature of mistakes, exploring how refusing to take responsibility can trap individuals in repeating patterns. 

“The story is essentially about guilt and the cyclical nature of mistakes, how refusing to accept your mistakes or take responsibility for your actions can trap you and doom you to repeat the same cycle,” she said. 

She adds that the film was intentionally left open-ended to allow audiences to interpret it in their own way and engage their imagination. 

Funded production 

Ayisha wrote the script over the course of two days after seeing a funding call from the Namibia Film Commission (NFC) in 2024. She submitted it at the very last minute, without prior planning, after someone sent her the poster. 

The Namibia Film Commission selected her script and invited her to pitch for funding. At the time, she was a university student in the middle of exams when her laptop crashed, forcing her to borrow a friend’s device to prepare. 

“I even did most of the work on my phone. I got my team of brilliant filmmakers together and pitched it. The judges loved it and moved me forward with the funding award that I then used to go into production and make this film at the beginning of 2025,” Ayisha recalls. Filming took place over three days along the B2 road outside Swakopmund, wrapping in February 2025. The film has since been part of the official selection for the 2025 European Union Film Festival and premiered at Film Week alongside other NFC-funded short films. 

Challenges 

Filming on the actual B2 road meant travelling and shooting in remote areas, including complex driving scenes. This added time and costs, as well as challenges such as Swakopmund’s unpredictable weather, including wind and mist, which made sound recording difficult. 

An unexpected challenge came from passing drivers who would stop or slow down, thinking the “ghost bride” might be a real person in need of help. While disruptive, it mirrored the legend being portrayed. On a personal level, Ayisha also had to overcome imposter syndrome while leading a team of more experienced filmmakers. 

“For me, a personal challenge was overcoming imposter syndrome as I was the youngest and least experienced person on set as a 21-year-old, yet I was the writer and producer managing a team of experienced filmmakers who were all way older than me,” she said. 

Growing the Namibian film industry 

Ayisha emphasised the importance of storytelling in preserving culture and passing it on to future generations. She believes filmmaking provides an opportunity for Namibians to capture and share their identity on their own terms, while establishing a presence on global stages. 

She noted that while the industry is making steady progress and attracting new interest, there is still a noticeable gap in public awareness, with many Namibians unfamiliar with the scope of local filmmaking. This, she said, highlights the need to expand visibility and strengthen connections with local audiences. 

She further stressed the need for financial support and international collaboration to help the industry grow. 

Milestones 

Ayisha expressed gratitude to director Roger Rafael, whom she credits with opening doors for her early in her career. She described him as a major influence who recognised her talent and gave her opportunities to grow as a writer on ‘Ompata’. 

Reflecting on her journey, she highlighted several proud moments, including the film’s selection for the European Union Film Festival and her selection for the Namibia Film Commission delegation to the Durban Film Market. 

With ‘The B2 Passage’ gaining recognition both locally and internationally, its success marks not only a personal milestone for Ayisha and Nakale but also a step forward for Namibia’s growing film industry.