By Kevin Kriedemann
Published November 10, 2017
Four movies and TV shows currently on Showmax internet TV service have received 26 nominations in Kenya’s Kalasha International Film and TV Awards.
Kenya Film Commission, the organisers of the event, on November 8, 2017 unveiled the movies that are available to stream on Showmax in East Africa as KATI KATI, WAKWE, INHERITED and TUMAINI SENTA.
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KATI KATI, a 2018 Academy Awards contender that tells the story of Kaleche (Nyokabi Gethaiga from GOING BONGO and NAIROBI HALF LIFE), a young woman who finds herself in an afterlife resort, stuck in purgatory with other souls played by some of the best talents in the industry, like Elsaphan Njora (GROOVE THEORY), Peter King Mwania (SENSE8), Paul Ogola (SENSE8, NAIROBI HALF LIFE), Mumbi Maina (JANE & ABEL,HOW TO FIND A HUSBAND, SHATTERED) and Brian Ogola (JANE & ABEL), tops the list with 13 nominations:
• Best Feature Film
• Best East African film
• Best Director (Mbithi Masya)
• Best Actor (Elsaphan Njora)
• Best Actress (Nyokabi Gethaiga)
• Best Supporting Actor (Paul Ogola)
• Best Original Screenplay (Mbithi Masya and Mugambi Nthiga)
• Best Director of Photography (Andrew Mungai)
• Best Lighting Technician (Siobhan Wilson)
• Best Editor (Louiza Wanjiku)
• Best Special Effects
• Best Sound Design (Florian Holzner)
• Best Production Designer (Emmanuel Murabu)
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WAKWE, a movie in which a happily married couple fights against all odds and their parents’ disapproval to preserve their love, has six nominations for:
• Best Actor (Ayub Bakari)
• Best Director of Photography (Lucky Collins)
• Best Lighting Technician (Kevin Mutua)
• Best Editor (Hamad Kamole)
• Best Sound Design (Khamisi Mohammed)
• Best Production Designer (Shadrack Mwabuni)
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INHERITED, that features the ever-bold Gerald Langiri (FUNDI-MENTALS, HOUSE OF LUNGULA, STAY) and tells the story of a man who is forced to inherit his brother’s wife due to an old tradition–even though he is already married–has five nominations for:
• Best Feature Film
• Best Director (Grace Kahaki)
• Best Original Screenplay (Mona Ombogo)
• Best Director of Photography (Philippe Bresson)
• Best Production Designer (Grace Kahaki)
TUMAINI SENTA, a medical drama featuring Nice Githinji (HOW TO FIND A HUSBAND, HOUSE OF LUNGULA) as Dr Tabu who, together with her college friend decides to give back to the community by setting up a clinic in one of the most notorious slums, has two nominations for:
• Best Actress in a TV Drama (Nice Githinji)
• Best Actor in a TV Drama (Olwenya Maina from NAIROBI HALF LIFE)
In addition, Showmax is streaming the first season of NEW BEGINNINGS, which is nominated for Best TV Drama and Best Actor in a TV Drama (Joed Kariuki from HOW TO FIND A HUSBAND). It tells the story of Sean (Neville Misati / Nouhoum Kone), who wakes up from a coma after five years to find that life left him behind – his wife (K24 anchor Maya Hayakawa) is now married to his best friend Derek (Kariuki).
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Showmax also has a number of previous Kalasha winners, including the hit films HOUSE OF LUNGULA, FUNDI-MENTALS, SOMETHING NECESSARY, VEVE, and NI SISI, as well as TV series like GROOVE THEORY, TALES FROM THE BUSH LARDER, CLASSMATES and STAY. SAIDA, which won Best TV Drama in 2014, comes to Showmax on November 30, 2017.
While Kalasha International Film Festival will run December 4-8, 2017 and the awards gala will be held on December 9, 2017, the market is scheduled for March 2018.