Runyararo Mapfumo

Biography

Runyararo Mapfumo

Runyararo graduated from Sheffield with a first in Film and Visual Effects in 2013. Her storytelling balances drama and sensitivity with a humanity that is relatable and engaging.

Runyararo’s short films study human nature and are grounded in reality. In Masterpiece, she explores brotherhood and socio-political themes through a group of friends’ interpretation of modern art. In Sensational Simmy! we observe a former World Champion take her power back and instinctively decide to fight for what's hers when a hate crime occurs. The film originated from the question 'what does it mean to be British?' and also explores themes around failure and resilience. The BFI/BBC funded Dawn In The Dark looks at the relationship between an uncle and his niece as they struggle through a family crisis.

In 2020 Runyararo was selected to create one of 21 films by 21 directors for the Uncertain Kingdom – a unique portrait of the nation in 2020: What’s In A Name profiles a handful of Brits with non-Western names, and how those names have affected their lives and shaped who they are.

In 2021 Runyararo directed half the Season 3 block of Netflix’s Sex Education which has gained her a 2022 BAFTA nomination for ‘Emerging Talent: Fiction’.

She is currently working on her feature film with Film4 alongside numerous TV projects.

Instagram: @runyararo_m