The true story of a boy from Malawi, who saved his village from drought, has had its premiere in Berlin. Sam Holder reports.

Among the glitz and glamour of the Berlin Film Festival - a movie of much more humble origins.

Chiwetel Ejiofor's directorial debut.

A true story from Malawi.

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind tells the tale of William Kamkwaba.

His family couldn't afford education - but he secretly studied at school - learning how to build a wind turbine.

It helps save his village after flooding.

For the director - the story has a global impact.

Says director Chiwetel Ejiofor:

"The most vulnerable communities in the world are going to take the brunt of the first stage of climate change. And that's something that at the moment everybody's sort of sitting fairly comfortably with in a very awkward and difficult way."

Among those at the premiere - William himself.

"Seeing that film has like this mixed feelings, remembering the time that I was building the wind mill and also the different times that I had like to go through and the joyful moments. So I have like this mixed feelings like seeing the movie. But overall it's like great, I enjoyed it."

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind also features Senegalese actress Aissa Maiga as William's mother.

The film is released on Netflix on March 1st.