TERASTORM BY AFRICANA TO REPRESENT KENYA IN THE CATEGORY OF BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM AT THE 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS – 2023
The Film Terastorm by Africana Digital is the Kenya Selection for the Best International Feature Film category for the 95th Academy awards.
TeraStorm, an animated Feature Film presents a group of elite African heroes who unite in an attempt to vanquish an ancient wizard who threatens to destroy the earth with a powerful mysterious artifact. The feature film is written, directed and animated by Andrew Kaggia. It features a talented Kenyan cast (Arabron Nyyneque, Ali Mwangola, Melvin Alusa, Sara Muhoho, Maryanne Nungo, Peter Mudamba, Mungai Kiroga) and entirely produced in Kenya. Powered by Unreal “TeraStorm” features an ensemble of Black African superheroes for the first time ever in a feature film.
Kenya now becomes the first country in Africa to submit an original African scripted animated feature with African characters and context for Oscar consideration. The nature of animation production is very intense hence there is only one other Animation that has ever been submitted for Oscar consideration a South African production which was an adaptation of a British Children’s novel by famous British writer Roald Dahl. The selection marks a significant leap forward for the Kenyan animation industry onto the world stage.
It is extremely encouraging to see producers in the challenging Animation sector taking risks to give us homegrown stories showing our own culture and perspectives in this popular genre.
Going by the submissions this year the Kenya Oscars selection Committee recognises that the Kenya Film industry is growing leaps and bounds.
There is a general improvement in the story telling and acting. Overall production values and quality also sees a bump in the right direction, specifically it is a huge upwards improvement in all categories of Film Production. The Kenyan Film industry is surely becoming even more competitive in the International Film Marketplace.
The Commission received four submissions this year. These were;
- Click Click Bang by Phil-It Productions Ltd,
- Chaguo by Good Karma Fiction Africa Limited,
- Terastorm by Africana Digital,
- Rising Son by Kelvin Osoo.
The Film Commission established the Kenya Oscars selection committee as per the Oscars guidelines. The current members are:
- Krysteen Savane – KFTPA (OSCK Chairperson)
- Alamin Virani – KAG (OSCK Secretary)
- Fatma Wandia – Producers Guild
- Joy Alunga- Association of Animation Artists Kenya
- Patricia Mataga – Writers Guild
- Mwendwa Mutua – Riverwood Ensemble
- Emily Wanja – DOCUBOX-EADFF (EA Documentary Film Fund)
- Serah Mwihaki – Kenya Scriptwriters guild
- Wycliffe Buhere – Association of Film Producing Educational Institutions
The Kenya Film Commission is mandated to develop, promote and market a vibrant film industry globally. In line with its mandate, the Commission has been officially recognized by the Academy of Motion pictures, Arts and Sciences (The Oscars) to set up an Oscars Selection Committee from the industry associations and guilds to make submissions for the Best International Feature Film Category Awards on behalf of the Kenyan film industry.
