The 4th edition of Kitale Film Week wrapped up in grand style, capping off a rich week of film screenings, industry learning, and community engagement that once again cemented the festival’s place as a vital platform for African cinema.
Throughout the week, participants were treated to a series of workshops and masterclasses covering a wide range of topics. These included Reuben Odanga’s session on ”What a Filmmaker Really Needs”, a masterclass by Njoki Muhoho and Women in Film and TV (WIFT Kenya), and Bob Nyanja’s masterclass on ”The Adaptive Filmmaker: Thriving in Africa’s Unpredictable Industry”. Rachael Wainaina led an Informal Economy Development Forum on how creatives can make money informally, and the week closed with Philip Luswata’s masterclass on ”Actors Secrets: Navigating Realities of Screen Acting Today”, just to name a few. There was also a panel discussion on Protest & Film, examining the power of documentary cinema in capturing civic movements and youth voices, moderated by Samuel Kizito Saviour and featuring panelists Mark Maina, Gloria Chad, Zippy Nyaruri, and Ella Chikezie.
The screenings were a cinephile’s delight, blending contemporary African productions with beloved classics that gave audiences both discovery and nostalgia in equal measure.
A standout moment of the week was the screening of The People Shall (2025), which was woven into the Tuwajibike Thursdays civic education programme, sparking meaningful conversations around citizenship and accountability.
The weekend brought a lighter, joyful energy as families gathered at the museum for a Family Fun Day, featuring screenings of animations and edutainment films that had young audiences thoroughly entertained.
The festival was also a beautiful showcase of meaningful partnerships that demonstrated a genuine commitment to African cinema. The Kenya Film Commission stood out in particular, not just lending their name but putting their money where their mouth is, sponsoring multiple award categories and showing that they are truly invested in nurturing Kenyan filmmaking talent. Their presence was a statement of intent. Alongside them, partners such as Docubox, WIFT Kenya, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the French Embassy, Tunga Media Afrika, Film Joint, Sanaa Post and the AFFC all played their part in making this edition possible, proving that when the right people come together around a shared vision, the results speak for themselves. The festival culminated in a closing ceremony that celebrated the best of African filmmaking.
The following awards were presented:-
- Best Narrative Feature Film — Katanga: The Dance of the Scorpions (2024) | Dani Kouyate | Burkina Faso
- Best Documentary Feature Film — The People Shall (2025) | Nick Wambugu, Mark Maina | Kenya
- Best Narrative Short Film — Amazeze (2025) | Jordy Sank | South Africa
- Best Documentary Short Film — John Johnny Johnté (2025) | Joash Omondi | Kenya
- Best Animated Film — Big Sad Nairobi (2024) | Sheldon Mutei, Gift Kyansimire | Kenya
- Youth Critics Award — Widow Champion (2025) | Zippy Kimundu | Kenya
- Impact Storytelling Award — The People Shall (2025) | Nick Wambugu, Mark Maina | Kenya
- Best Screen Performance — Joe Kinyua for S.He Gets Me
- KFC Award for Best Kenyan Feature Film — S.He Gets Me (2026) | Millicent Ogutu | Kenya
- KFC Award for Best Kenyan Documentary — The People Shall (2025) | Nick Wambugu, Mark Maina | Kenya
- KFC Award for Best Narrative Short Film — Inheritance (2024) | Barbara Minishi | Kenya
- KFC Award for Best Short Documentary — John Johnny Johnté (2025) | Joash Omondi | Kenya
Kitale Film Week 2026 was a week-long conversation about the power of African storytelling, and a reminder of the growing strength and diversity of cinema from across the continent. Mark your calendars, because next year’s edition promises to be even bigger, because in February, we watch films.
