EduFilm’s Director of Photography triumphs at regional competition – IGAD Digital Media Award with climate resilience documentary
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — In a moment that marks a milestone for South Sudanese cinema, Gabriel Gatluak Wal—known professionally as Gabuu Myles—has been awarded the Digital Media Award at the IGAD Digital Media Awards 2025. The recognition comes for his powerful documentary short “Climate Resilience: Inspiring Hope, Driving Change,” a film that transforms climate crisis narratives into stories of community-led action and hope.
“I am deeply honoured to be the winner of the Digital Media Award at the IGAD Media Awards,” Gabuu announced on his social media following the ceremony. “This achievement means so much to me, and I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported me physically, emotionally, and financially throughout this journey.”
The win represents not just personal triumph but validation of a filmmaking approach that centers African voices, celebrates local solutions, and refuses to reduce complex realities to simplified narratives of victimhood or despair—principles that align perfectly with EduFilm’s mission to transform education and social change through powerful documentary storytelling.
IGAD Digital Media Award Winning Film Born from Community Trust
“Climate Resilience: Inspiring Hope, Driving Change” runs just 103 seconds, but within that compact runtime, Gabuu constructs a narrative that has resonated across East Africa. The film documents South Sudan’s climate challenges—droughts that decimate crops, floods that wash away homes—while spotlighting the remarkable resilience of communities responding with innovation and determination.
From Yambio to Jonglei, his camera captures farmers adopting climate-smart agriculture, women leading reforestation initiatives, and young people implementing renewable energy solutions. The subjects speak for themselves, their voices carrying the weight of lived experience.
“I am a local farmer based in Yambio State,” one subject shares. “We are doing this farming for a reason that our children can harvest them tomorrow or in the nearby future so that it can sustain their life.”
Another declares with quiet conviction: “We should embark massively on cultivation because this is the only way that we can alleviate hunger from our midst.”
These are not passive victims awaiting rescue. They are architects of their own futures, and Gabuu’s film honors that agency—a storytelling philosophy he brings to all his work with EduFilm, where he serves as Director of Photography and Film Production Lead.
Working with voice artist William Madouk, whose narration breathed additional life into the visual storytelling, Gabuu created a documentary that the IGAD judges recognized as exceptional among regional submissions.
“Not forgetting William Madouk for voicing this masterpiece and adding life to the story,” Gabuu acknowledged in his victory message, highlighting the collaborative nature of impactful filmmaking.
Regional Recognition, National Pride
The response from South Sudan’s creative community has been overwhelming. Messages of congratulation flooded social media, many noting that Gabuu’s success represents something larger than individual achievement.
“Congrats Gabuu Myles for winning this great award at the regional competition. More blessings ahead of you brother,” wrote filmmaker Gatluak M Koat.
Ruth Nyaleel Kai Thoat saw even greater horizons: “I can see the Oscar award clearly coming home.”
William Madouk, who provided the film’s voiceover, wrote simply: “Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉 Gabuu Myles knew you will make us proud.”
The sentiment was echoed by King Media—Juba, where Gabuu serves as a producer: “Huge applause to King Media’s own, Gabriel Gatluak, for bagging a prestigious digital award at the IGAD Media Awards! Your hard work, creativity, and dedication continue to shine brightly. You’ve not only raised the bar but also lifted our flag high on the regional stage.”
Neema Mamrie, a colleague who had predicted the victory, noted: “When you told me that you will be traveling to Addis Ababa for this event, I was confident that you will win this award because I know your expertise in this digital field. Congratulations, and I wish you even more success, my buddy!”
The recognition also recalled earlier work. Ruth Nyaleel Kai Thoat referenced previous collaborations: “I still remember the incredible work you, Director Jal, Mariek and your team did with African Indigenous Women Empowerment. That’s when I knew you were destined to go far. Congratulations once again, your growth and dedication are truly inspiring!”
EduFilm’s Commitment to Excellence
Gabuu’s victory reflects EduFilm’s broader commitment to nurturing South Sudanese filmmaking talent and producing documentaries that drive social change. As the organization’s Director of Photography and Film Production Lead, Gabuu has been instrumental in establishing production standards that rival international benchmarks while remaining deeply rooted in local communities and authentic storytelling.
EduFilm specializes in documentary production that addresses critical issues across South Sudan and East Africa—from education and climate change to displacement and community empowerment. The organization believes that stories have the power to transform understanding, shift perspectives, and catalyze action.
“Gabuu embodies everything EduFilm stands for,” says a team member. “His work demonstrates that world-class filmmaking and authentic community engagement aren’t mutually exclusive—they’re mutually reinforcing. When you approach communities with respect, when you center their voices and honor their agency, you create more powerful films.”
The IGAD award validates EduFilm’s investment in technical excellence, ethical storytelling practices, and long-term capacity building within South Sudan’s creative sector. It demonstrates that the organization’s approach—combining professional training, quality equipment, and collaborative production processes—produces work that competes successfully at regional and international levels.
A Career Built on Authentic Storytelling
Gabuu’s journey to the IGAD podium has been one of consistent dedication to craft and community. His portfolio spans the breadth of South Sudan’s contemporary challenges and triumphs.
With UNHCR, he captured the experiences of returnees and refugees in Wedweil, creating visual records that preserve dignity alongside documentation. During the UNDP Governors’ Forum, he provided media coverage that made policy accessible to broader audiences. In Yambio, working with the International Trade Centre, he documented women’s economic empowerment initiatives, showing how resilience manifests in marketplaces and cooperatives.
As Communication Officer for Kulang Foundation, he manages media strategy and community storytelling, ensuring that grassroots organizations have the same quality of visual documentation as major international agencies.
This multidimensional practice—moving between documentary production at EduFilm, institutional media work at King Media, and community communication—has given Gabuu unique insight into how stories function at different scales and for different audiences.
The Brothers Who Believed
In his victory message, Gabuu singled out two people whose support proved foundational: “A special appreciation goes to my two elder brothers, Koech Wal and Madut Wal, for their endless guidance and encouragement.”
The acknowledgment points to something often invisible in individual achievement stories—the networks of support, the family encouragement, the community investment that makes creative careers possible, especially in contexts where resources are limited and infrastructure remains fragile.
“This victory is ours,” Gabuu emphasized, distributing credit among the many people who contributed to his journey.
The collective framing reflects his filmmaking philosophy. Just as his documentary centers community voices rather than external narrators, his response to winning centers community support rather than individual genius.
What the IGAD Digital Media Award Win Means
The IGAD Media Awards bring together the best journalism and media work from across the Intergovernmental Authority on Development region—covering Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. Competition is fierce, with entries representing the highest caliber of East African media production.
For a South Sudanese filmmaker to win in the Digital Media category signals both the quality of Gabuu’s work and the growing strength of South Sudan’s creative sector. Despite limited infrastructure, ongoing development challenges, and the legacy of conflict, the country’s media practitioners are producing work that stands alongside—and surpasses—production from more resourced contexts.
The win also validates an approach to climate storytelling that foregrounds local knowledge and community-led solutions. As international climate discourse often centers Western scientific expertise and top-down interventions, Gabuu’s film demonstrates what becomes visible when cameras are held by people who understand the landscapes and communities they’re documenting.
For EduFilm, the award represents confirmation that the organization’s model works. By investing in local talent, providing professional development opportunities, and maintaining high production standards, EduFilm is helping build a sustainable South Sudanese film industry capable of telling the country’s stories with authenticity and excellence.
After IGAD Digital Media Award: Looking Ahead
With the IGAD Digital Media Award secured, Gabuu’s trajectory continues upward. His workspace remains cluttered with hard drives containing thousands of hours of footage—ongoing projects with EduFilm, King Media, and Kulang Foundation, each contributing to the expanding archive of South Sudanese visual culture.
“I want to be part of building a South Sudanese media industry that rivals any in the world,” he has said previously, and this win brings that vision closer to reality.
Since its release, “Climate Resilience: Inspiring Hope, Driving Change” has sparked conversations about climate adaptation across the region. The IGAD recognition ensures the film will reach even broader audiences, potentially influencing policy discussions and inspiring other filmmakers to adopt similar approaches.
For South Sudan’s emerging generation of media practitioners, Gabuu’s success provides both inspiration and roadmap. It demonstrates that world-class work can emerge from challenging contexts, that authentic storytelling resonates beyond borders, and that dedication combined with talent can achieve regional and potentially international recognition.
EduFilm is committed to supporting more filmmakers on similar journeys. The organization offers training, mentorship, production support, and collaborative opportunities designed to elevate South Sudanese voices in regional and global conversations.
As one supporter noted, “I can see the Oscar award clearly coming home.” While that remains speculative, the statement captures something real—a belief that South Sudanese creative excellence deserves global platforms, and that practitioners like Gabuu and organizations like EduFilm are building bridges to make that possible.
A Message of Hope
The film’s closing lines have taken on additional resonance following the IGAD win: “The climate crisis is real, but so is the spirit of South Sudan. And when hope meets action, change becomes unstoppable.”
In many ways, those words describe not just climate adaptation but Gabuu’s own journey—hope translated into action, action recognized through achievement, achievement inspiring broader change.
Behind the camera, Gabuu continues his work, already planning the next project, the next story, the next frame that might capture something essential about South Sudanese experience. But for now, there’s space to celebrate—not just individual victory, but what that victory represents for a community, an industry, a country rebuilding and reimagining itself.
“This victory is ours,” he said, and in those words lies both gratitude and invitation. The win belongs to everyone who supported the journey, and it opens doors for everyone who follows.
Related Links
- Watch the Award-Winning Film: Climate Resilience: Inspiring Hope, Driving Change
- Gabuu Myles YouTube Channel
- See EduFilm Impact
- About EduFilm’s Work
- King Media – Juba Facebook Page
- Kulang Foundation
- IGAD – Intergovernmental Authority on Development
- UNHCR – UN Refugee Agency
- UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
About Gabriel Gatluak Wal (Gabuu Myles)
Gabriel Gatluak Wal, known professionally as Gabuu Myles, is a South Sudanese filmmaker, producer, and visual storyteller specializing in documentary production, film direction, and photography. He is the winner of the IGAD Digital Media Award 2025 for his documentary short “Climate Resilience: Inspiring Hope, Driving Change.”
Gabuu serves as:
- Director of Photography and Film Production Lead at EduFilm
- Producer at King Media – Juba
- Communication Officer at Kulang Foundation
His work has been featured in projects with UNHCR, UNDP, and the International Trade Centre, documenting stories of resilience, displacement, empowerment, and community-led development across South Sudan.
Follow Gabuu’s Work:
- YouTube: @gabuumyles
- Facebook: Gabuu Myles
About EduFilm
EduFilm is a youth-led documentary production organization dedicated to transforming education and social change through powerful storytelling across South Sudan and East Africa.
Our Mission: We believe that stories have the power to shift perspectives, challenge assumptions, and catalyze meaningful change. Through documentary filmmaking, we amplify marginalized voices, document community-led solutions, and create visual archives that preserve the complexities of contemporary East African experience.
What We Do:
- Produce high-quality documentary films addressing critical social issues
- Train and mentor emerging South Sudanese filmmakers
- Partner with communities, NGOs, and international organizations on visual storytelling projects
- Advocate for ethical, authentic, and community-centered filmmaking practices
Our Approach: EduFilm combines professional production standards with deep community engagement. We invest in local talent, provide access to quality equipment and training, and maintain collaborative production processes that honor the agency and dignity of the people whose stories we document.
Gabuu Myles’ IGAD Media Award win demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach. When you combine technical excellence with authentic community relationships, you create films that resonate beyond borders while remaining rooted in local realities.
Get Involved:
- Commission a Documentary: Partner with us on projects that require professional documentary production
- Training Programs: Learn filmmaking from experienced practitioners committed to ethical storytelling
- Collaborative Projects: Bring your story ideas and we’ll help bring them to screen
- Support Our Work: Help us continue building South Sudan’s documentary filmmaking capacity
We celebrate Gabuu’s achievement and remain committed to supporting more South Sudanese filmmakers in producing world-class work that tells our stories with authenticity, dignity, and excellence. Edufilm is aiming for the next IGAD Digital Media Award 2026.
