The 4th edition of the Kalasha International Film and TV Market scheduled for 5th to 7th May 2021 goes virtual

MY KENYA MY STORY ROLLS OUT ITS FOURTH EDITION
The 4^th edition of the My Kenya My Story mobile phone film competition is currently underway. This year’s edition is themed: The Social Economic Impact of COVID-19. As with the past three successful editions, filmmakers from across the country are invited to submit their short films; submission closes on 21^st May 2021. See the poster for details.

KENYA FILM COMMISSION CELEBRATES WOMEN IN FILM
For the second year running, Kenya Film Commission partnered with Beyond The Film Limited to celebrate women filmmakers and award outstanding personalities. This is aimed at supporting the Government agenda of women inclusion in various professional skills as well as promotion of the role played by women in the film industry.

The Awards Gala, which took place in March 2021, was graced by Ms. Nadia Ahmed Abdalla, the Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs.
The winners in this second edition were:

*Best Actress in a Film – Alison Nyawira
*Best Actress in a TV Drama – Yasmin Said
*Best Director, TV Drama – Caroline Odongo
*Best Director, Film – Wambui Gathee
*Best Assistant Director – Olympia Owira
*Best Newcomer Producer – Sarah Hassan
*Best Producer, Film – Toni Kamau
*Best Producer, TV Drama – Lulu Hassan
*Best Sound Designer – Maureen Wanjiku
*Best location Sound Recordist – Shiila Gathoni
*Best Editor – Angela Wamai
*Best Set Designer – Siteiya Warui
*Best Cinematographer – Emma Nzioka
*Best Animator – Wixx Mangutha
*Best Scriptwriter, Film – Damaris Irungu Ochieng
*Best Scriptwriter, TV Drama – Serah Mwihaki
*Best Make-Up Artist – Florence Gathoni
*Best Costume Designer – Rose Kambua
*Most influential Woman Personality – Judy Kibinge

Women in Film Awards seek to celebrate the drive, spirit and diversity of the woman filmmaker.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MULTICHOICE TALENT FACTORY (MTF) ACADEMY CLASS OF 2020
The second cohort of the Multichoice Talent Factory was dealt a heavy blow by the COVID-19 pandemic but the students from Nairobi, Lagos and Lusaka Academy Hubs were quick to adapt and transition from physical to virtual learning. This April, all the 60 students graduated after an extension of their coursework from 12 months to 18 months. Alongside their MTF qualification, the students also walked away with an equally illustrious qualification from the prestigious New York Film Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (NYFA).

The best performing students received additional awards from various partners such as NYFA, Nihilent Technologies, Jasco Broadcast Solutions, among others. Kenya’s Maurice Muendo emerged the most promising Film Video Editor in the East Africa region; he received an AVID media composer licence from Jasco Broadcast Solutions. Another Kenyan, Hanigun Kwenya, received a 4-week internship at one of Mnet Productions.

We wish the graduates all the best as they venture into the Film and TV industry.

KENYAN PRODUCTIONS TO COMPETE AT ANNECY
"The Wonderful Story of Aisha, Ali and Flipflopi, the Multicoloured Dhow Boat", by Apes in Space for the Flipflopi Expedition, will be the first ever Kenyan short film in competition at Annecy! It was among the 12 films selected for the Young Audiences category. This animation was created to celebrate the World Clean Up Day 2020 which aimed at beating plastic pollution for clean seas.

Directed by Kwame Nyong’o, the film tells the story of Aisha and Ali who are unhappy about the plastic pollution in their otherwise idyllic Kenyan seaside village. The two decide to do something about it: collect all the plastic and make a big dhow sailing boat! The link to the "The Wonderful Story of Aisha, Ali and Flipflopi the Multicoloured Dhow Boat" is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CM0gSi5Hdk&t=10s

Apes In Space is also part of the international co-production team for Twende "Smoothie Operator" by Mike Scott which is in this year's Annecy TV competition. Twende is a South African-USA-Kenya-UK co-production in which Kwame Nyong'o is serving as an Executive Producer.

Besides the two productions, yet another Apes In Space production – The Legend of Lwanda Magere - won the Kalasha Award for Best Animation Production 2020.

CALL FOR ENTRIES: DOCUMENTARY AFRICA (DOCA 2021)
Documentary Africa is calling on documentary filmmakers, producers and organizations at large within the African continent to apply for Grant Funding. The grant will enable the beneficiaries to develop, produce and/or complete their respective projects.
Apply now on www.documentaryafrica.org/grant-listing. The deadline is 14th May 2021.