WANURI'S SCI-FI SCREENED AT SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

Filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu's science fiction film, Pumzi will be screened at this year’s Sundance Film Festival as part of it's New African Cinema program. This being Kenya’s first science fiction film, we hope it will shade some much needed light to the talented minds in the country.
Pumzi will play a total of five times at Sundance between January 22 and January 30. The 29 minute-film is about survivors of an ecological devastation, as a result how they live in a controlled environment, the Maitu Comunity.
Since they believe there is no life outside, no one is allowed to leave the comunity. But a young woman, Asha, who is in possession of a germinating seed struggles against the governing council to plant the precious seedling on Earth’s ruined surface.
The short film was made with grant money from Focus Features’ Africa First short film program, the Goethe Institut and the Changamoto arts fund.
Mentors from Focus Features introduced Wanuri to South African producers, including Simon Hansen, who worked with Neill Blomkamp the director of the controversial hit sci-fi District 9
In a recent interview with Wired.com Wanuri revealed that she has future plans to expand Pumzi to a feature length as well as nurturing her local film community.
“I would like to work and build an industry, so that everyone walks away well-paid, with great hours,”Wanuri said. “Just a humane society, of sorts.”