Kenyan Filmmaker, Wanuri Kahiu has been awarded the Spirit of Cinema Award in Kerala, India.
This was during the 28th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).
The film festival honored the filmmaker for her efforts in creating creative works that are against conservative values in Kenya.
She bagged the award that was held by Iranian filmmaker and women’s activist Mahnaz Mohammadi in 2023.
Notably, this award aims to celebrate the fighting spirit of filmmakers.
Wanuri Kahiu as a Filmmaker
Wanuri produced her first feature film, From A Whisper, in 2008.
It was based on the real events surrounding the 1998 twin bombings of US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
From A Whisper also won Best Narrative Feature in 2010 at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.
Additionally, the film bagged five awards at the African Movie Academy Award, winning Kahiu Best Director, and Best Screenplay.
Wanuri Kahiu is the mastermind behind Afro Bubble Gum’, an artistic movement that encourages freedom of expression.
Afro Bubble Gum is geared towards correcting the established outlook towards Africa and to create a new perspective about the continent.
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Wanuri Kahiu’s Most Renown Works
Nevertheless, Wanuri’s most famous work is the film Rafiki which took the world by storm during its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018.
However, Rafiki was banned by the Kenya Films and classification Board (KFCB) in 2018 due to its thematic standpoint.
The film portrayed the romantic relationship between two young women, something that is largely unaccepted in Kenya.
As such, the filmmaker appealed against the ban, arguing it was against freedom of expression which is upheld in Kenya’s constitution. But the constitutional court refused to lift the ban.
However, Kenyan Judge, Wilfrida Okwany uplifted the ban for seven days in 2018 to allow the screening and submission of the film into the Oscar’s Awards.
Unfortunately, Rafiki missed out on the prestigious nomination but has continued to bag accolades outside of the country despite its ban.
The most recent award received by the film was the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film in 2020.
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Recently, Wanuri Kahiu directed Look Both Ways which a romantic comedy film featuring big Hollywood names such as Lili Reinhart and Danny Ramirez.
