Kenya Film Commission has unveiled the 9 nominees of the fourth edition of My Kenya My Story mobile phone film competition. This year’s edition, whose theme was Social Economic Impact of COVID-19, attracted 138 submissions. The submissions were reviewed by Jury members comprising:
Mr. Eugene Mbugua – Executive Producer, Documentary & Reality TV
Mr. Gideon Mburusu – Executive Director, CDI Gadgets
Ms. Carole Gikandi – Film Editor
Mr. Alex Mulwa – Marketing Manager, Kenya Film Commission
According to the Kenya Film Commission CEO, Mr. Timothy Owase, the competition is aimed at powering the growth of the local film industry countrywide with the affordability of a smart phone over high-end equipment.
The shortlisted films are available on the Kenya Film Commission Youtube page for viewing and public voting; public voting closes on 14th June 2021.
The winners will be announced on 18th June 2021 with the top prize being Ksh 200,000; Ksh150,000 and Ksh100,000 for the first and second runners up respectively.
Here is the list of the 9 shortlisted films:
SOLO
Alex, sacked from his job during this Covid-19 period and the country on lockdown, is left isolated to his thoughts, with many regrets from stupid decisions in the past. The past comes to haunt him. The conversation with his past leaves him to seek solace in suicide. Depression and mental illness blossoms in seclusion.
A lot of people are going through hard times; check on a brother or sister. We can only be there for each other.
~Produced and Directed by: Erick Kinungi
~Written by: Muchama Omundi
BUSKET OF HOPE
A Kenyan story of a mother who is a victim of domestic violence, a mother who tries to protect her child from the abusive father.
~Written, Directed and Produced by: Moses Mwathi
WAIRIMU
Story of a woman who is sick and can’t get a job due to covid-19.
~Written and Directed by: John Maende Maina
~Produced by: Jacob Mwaniki
CHOCHA
Chochi, a young actress, prepares to go for her long-anticipated film audition. She meets her dad at the gate who stops her because of how poorly she is performing in her studies. She shows her dad the audition poster and he is not moved by that. Her dad takes her phone away and threatens to even take the car if she doesn’t take her studies seriously.
After missing the auditions due to new COVID 19 guidelines, she feels frustrated and disappointed, she meets Kaune, a blind online host who has broken the barrier of People with Disabilities being left out on TV shows as hosts, by starting his own Online show called KUJICHOCHA.
Kaune challenges her to express herself on his show where she shares her frustrations and disappointments and how her dad is pressuring her with studies even though she attends online classes.
Later that night, her dad comes to her smiling, as she is attending one of her online classes. He shares with her how the video she did with Kaune has been received warmly online. To her surprise, the video has overwhelming views and production companies are reaching out to her for a leading role in an online TV series.
~Written, Directed and Produced by: Paul Mbugua
THE CREATURE
Corona is here with all its challenges. Snura, a mother of one, is pushed to a corner by the events that she discovers about her husband. Life offers her two choices. Which of the two is she going to take?
~Directed by: Kamau Wandungu
~Written by Bernice Nthenya
~Produced by Kamau Wandungu and Jacqueline Nyaminde
ALIVE AGAIN
The pandemic has left us facing tough times in terms of education and for working students, it leaves a hole in our lives. With the president reopening up the nation, creatives like myself are given the chance to breathe and feel ALIVE AGAIN!
~Written and Directed by: Eastmond Mwenda
~Produced by: TBE Productions
BLACK TAX: LISTED
How can you face your issues if the issue is your face? Trapped between his two realities; an already strained pay slip and an ever-increasing Black Tax list, how has Covid-19 further impacted on Tito’s social and economic standing?
~Written and Directed by: Derrick Waswa
~Produced by Wanjiku Debra
THE UPSIDE DOWN
In a bid to beat the 8PM curfew, a woman crushes due to over speeding. She hits a motorcyclist who, as it turns out, is not a stranger.
~Written and Directed by: David Waronja
~Produced by: Njuguna Ng’ang’a
STAY SAFE
How to stay safe during Covid 19 times.
~Directed by: Frank Mutuma
~Produced by: John Mumba
~Written by: John Mumba and Sechi Love
