Kitale Film Week (KFW) is officially underway, and the energy surrounding this year’s edition suggests the attendees will be in for a treat. Now in its fourth year, the festival founded by Peter Pages has grown into one of the most distinctive film events in the region, with Festival Director Mudamba Mudamba steering the 2026 edition.
The festival kicked off with a soft launch yesterday, with the main opening night set for Wednesday, 25th February at the Kitale Museum from 5:00 PM, hosted by Ambassador Big Ted. The night will feature a screening of “Inside Job,” with an impressive guest list that includes CS Truphosa Amere HSC, Senator Okiya Omtatah, Timothy Owase MBS (CEO, Kenya Film Commission), Bob Nyanja, and Prof. C.J. Odhiambo. An afterparty will follow at Bites & Barrels Katakala.
One of the early talking points has been the inclusion of S.he Gets Me by Millicent Ogutu in the festival’s programme, a remarkable feat given that the film premiered just 11 days ago, which appears to be a record turnaround for a festival selection, and an early sign that KFW is paying close attention to what is happening in local filmmaking right now.
Beyond screenings, KFW 2026 is packed with workshops running throughout the week at Deepsea Resort. Reuben Odanga opens on Wednesday with a session on what a filmmaker really needs, followed by Njoki Muhoho’s Women in Film and TV (WIFT Kenya) Masterclass on Thursday. Bob Nyanja takes the floor on Friday with The African Filmmaker Camouflage, before Abdulrahman Al Mana speaks on supporting emerging talent on Saturday. Philip Luswata closes out the workshops on Sunday with an honest look at the realities of screen acting today.
The festival has also expanded its community footprint significantly, extending its reach to 30 schools across Trans Nzoia County through a partnership with Tunga. The youth Critics Workshop has also launched today, facilitated by Churchill Osimbo and Rachael Diang’a, giving young audiences a formal space to engage seriously with film.
KFW’s growing list of partners, including Youth for SDGs, Filmmakers Hangout, the Ministry of Education, and the Kenya Drama Festivals, signals a maturing ecosystem around the event and its mission to anchor film culture in the region. As for us, we could not be more ready to spend an entire week doing exactly what February in Kitale demands, watching films, So, the big question being asked this week: Why are you not in Kitale?
