August 4th, the African Female Filmmakers Collective (AFFC) announced an open call for all female filmmakers to apply for a hands-on mobile filmmaking program designed to amplify new voices and equip emerging talent with the skills & tools to create powerful, locally-rooted stories.
Storytellers Filmlab brought together first-time and experienced filmmakers in a program that culminated in Saturday’s celebration of their final works, the result of months of learning and collaboration.
Two Rivers’ Century Cinemax glittered despite the monochrome dress code as fans and acquainted filmmakers mingled and shared their experiences in the films on the line-up. One undebatable fact is that you’ll never be bored at an Elsaphan Njora event, who made sure the energy was always on the right axis.
The seven titles screened centered on themes of gender-based violence and mental illness, giving the filmmakers the freedom to explore their creative strengths and voices. The titles were Social Delirium (Directed by Christine Nyokabi), Silent Decay (Directed by Lilian Koroso), Quiet Control (Directed by Winnie Akoth), Checked Out (Directed by Wanjiku Gichuhi), Silent Steps (Directed by Moureen Gitau), Fracture (Directed by Mwihaki Kimani), and Unseen (Written by Reborn Neema). In the Audience Choice Award, Social Delirium bagged the second runner-up, Silent Steps the first, and Fracture emerged as the winner.
The films showcased a range of aesthetic skills, each leaning to their own strengths in manipulating light, sound, and other film properties to make their stories unique. The stories could have benefited from a balance of exploring their themes and entertaining, so as not to drag as close to all of them did.
Congratulations to every participant in Cohort One. Cohort Two application is underway. Register here.
To top it all, AFFC has state-of-the-art mobile filmmaking equipment ready for filmmakers around the country, from Telephoto and Anamorphic lenses and more. Click here for more information.
