KALASHA AWARDS SUBMISSIONS CLOSE

Patricia Mbatia- Macharia

A record 153 film and television features have been entered in this year's Kalasha Film and Television Awards. The entries comprise local productions. Winners will be announced during a gala dinner planned for September 25, 2010.
The second Kalasha Film & TV Awards have been designed to allow Kenyans to celebrate their cultural diversity through film and to recognize the role of film in economic sustainability. Specifically, the Award seek to motivate local producers towards quality film and TV productions.
The newly appointed CEO of Kenya Film Commission, Peter Mutie unveiled the 2nd edition of Film and Television Awards Nomination Academy members who will select from the 153 entries productions that will feature in the nominees list.
The academy members comprise experts in the industry. They include Prof. Kimani Njogu, Dr. Levi Obonyo and Mr. Muhammad Suleiman. Others are Dr. Wambui Kiai, Wangeci Murage, Rosemary K'owuor, Patricia Mbatia-Macharia and Samira Mathews.
The Nomination Academy team has a daunting task in moving the 2nd kalasha awards to the third and ultimate phase. Mr. Mutie says this marks the ultimate stretch towards the main gala event which is scheduled for the 25th September, 2010. He adds that, for the sake of posterity and the need for preserving our cultures, the Commission will strive to make its contribution towards telling the Kenyan story.
Kalasha celebrates the vast creativity in the industry by acknowledging the works done by Kenya Production Houses, Independent Producers, Television Stations and Film Students.
This year the Kalasha Awards boast of 29 categories which include three new classes: the Student Productions, Animation and the most promising categories.

KALASHA FILM AND TV AWARDS ARE HERE AGAIN

The Kalasha Film & Television Awards will be held in September. The awards that are on their second year are organised by the Kenya Film Commission. The call for entries and submissions of the same has already begun.
The upcoming 2010/2011 Awards have been designed to allow Kenyans to celebrate their cultural diversity, address various social cross-cutting issues, as well as recognize the role of Film within the Creative Economy.
Specifically, the Awards will seek to challenge Local filmmakers towards quality Film production by rewarding Filmmakers and Television producers; celebrating and recognizing excellence in the production of Local Kenyan movies and giving the Film industry the impetus to grow further as one of the emerging industries.
Additionally, the awards will encourage the growth of this industry which has the potential to create employment to our youth, generate income and promote the entertainment industry.

Jitu Films Arise After Their Horror Film Is Banned!

After the dashing news of “OTTO: The blood bath” ban by the Kenyan Film Censorship Board (KFCB), Jitu Films, the film company that was slapped with the ban have received some good news on another movie they produced.
The romantic tearjerker film “ZEINABU RUDI NYUMBANI” was nominated for the best short film award in the Kalasha Awards. According to a statement sent out to news rooms, they mention the fact that one government body “is banning us and the other is recognizing and promoting our efforts!”
Anyho, ZEINABU RUDI NYUMBANI is Jitu’s top selling film (followed very close by R2 Security and Mob Doc) and amongst others is featuring Eric Wainaina, as himself!
The movie is about DEDAN (Joseph Kamau Kinuthia) and ZEINABU (Josephine Kamwenga) who are happily married, and live a bucolic and simple life on the countryside. But when city man KAVILA (Morris Mwadulo) arrives, asking for help with his broken-down car, he sets about seducing ZEINABU. Initially she resists but when her husband takes her for granted, ZEINABU decides to leave home with KAVILA. Jackie Nyaminde (Who plays Papa Shirandula’s wife) is also appearing as Kavila’s evil mother!
Jitu Films is asking for your support in the soon to be opened voting process on www.kalashaawards.co.ke.

Kalasha Awards Nominees Announced

Kenya’s first Film and TV Awards, Kalasha, was officially launched on Thursday night at the Carnivore. Kalasha is the brainchild of the Kenya Film Commission, a government body that was constituted to spearhead growth in the film industry.
Here, the nominees for the award ceremony were announced.

FILM AWARDS:

a) Best Leading Actor

I. Peter King [Formula X]
II. Mburu Kimani [The Race]
III. Godfrey Odhiambo [Malooned]
IV. Ken Ambani [From a Whisper]


b) Best supporting Actor

I. Abubakar Mwenda [From a Whisper]
II. Peter Kinuthia [Unseen Unsung Unforgotten]
III. Melvin Alusa [Formula X]
IV. Paul Njoka [By Any Means Necessary]


c) Best Leading Actress 

I. Nice Githinji [All Girls Together]
II. Karen Lucas [Dance For Wives]
III. Janet Kirina [Benta]
IV. Corine Onyango [From a Whisper]


d) Best Supporting Actress

I. Mumbi Maina [Unseen Unsung Unforgotten]
II. Wambui Murima [Backlash]
III. Lydia Gitachu [Unseen Unsung Unforgotten]
IV. Mama Njeri [Village Cassanova]


e) Best Cinematography 

I. Unseen Unsung Unforgotten
II. Formula X
III. From a Whisper
IV. Killer Necklace


f) Best Editing

I. From a Whisper
II. Uncovering the Media
III. Unseen Unsung Unforgotten
IV. Formula X


g) Best Scriptwriter in Original Screenplay

I. Cajetan Boy [Backlash]
II. Wanuri Kahiu [From a Whisper]
III. Steve Ominde [Formula X]
IV. Mona Ombogo [Unseen Unsung Unforgotten]


h) Best Film Overall

I. From a Whisper
II. Benta
III. Backlash
IV. Unseen Unsung Unforgotten.


i) Best Director 

I. Wanuri Kahiu [From a Whisper]
II. Judy Kibinge [Killer Necklace]
III. Robby Bresson [Help]
IV. Mona Ombogo/ Njoki Mbuthia [Unseen Unsung Unforgotten]


j) Best Documentary Feature

I. Mo & Me
II. Uncovering the Media
III. A Voice in the Dark
IV. Unquiet


k) Best Short film

I. The Killer Necklace
II. Dance For Wives
III. Wale Watu
IV. Zeinabu Rudi Nyumbani


l) Best River wood film

I. The Race
II. Machangi
III. Family Betrayal
IV. Village Cassanova


TELEVISION AWARDS:


a) Best Actor in a Television Series 

I. Arabron Osanya [Mother-in-Law]
II. Joseph Kinuthia [Tahidi High]
III. Tony Njuguna [Makutano Junction]
IV. Charles Bukeko [Papa Shirandula]


b) Best Actress in a Television Series 

I. Linet Atieno [Wash and Set]
II. Jackline Nyaminde [Papa Shirandula]
III. Elizabeth Wanjiru [Mother-in-Law]
IV. Lucy Wangui(Judge) [Vioja Mahakamani]


c) Best Performance in a Comedy 

I. Charles Bukeko-[Papa Sirandula]
II. Daniel Ndambuki-[Churchill]
III. Benson Wanjau(Ojwang)-[Vitimbi]
IV. David Mwambili (Inspekta Mwala)- [Inspekta Mwala]


d) Best TV Drama 

I. Makutano Junction 
II. Heartbeat FM 
III. Tahidi High 
IV. Better Days 


e) Best Comedy Program 

I. Churchill live
II. Papa Shirandula 
III. Vioja Mahakamani 
IV. Vitimbi 


f) Best Talk Show 

I. The Woman’s Show 
II. Time Yetu 
III. Agenda Kenya 
IV. Hatua 


g) Best TV Program Overall 

I. Makutano Junction 
II. The Woman’s Show 
III. Destination Kenya 
IV. Churchill Live 



h) Best TV Script 

I. Wamaitha Thairu [Tahidi High]
II. Mwenda Njoki[Kenya’s Secret History]
III. Natasha Likimani/Wanjiru Kairu[Tabasamu]
IV. Jennifer Gatero[Better Days] 


i) Best TV Producer 

I. Catherine Wamuyu Nguku [Mother-in-Law]
II. Tony Mwize [Wash and Set]
III. David Campbell [Makutano Junction]
IV. Anthony Lukhwile [Churchill Live] 


j) Best TV Director 

I. Victor Gatonye [Makutano Junction]
II. Edwin Nyongesa [Wakilisha]
III. Mudegu Kibwana Onguso [Papa Shirandula]
IV. Rajeev Jain [Heartbeat FM] 


k) Best TV Documentary 

I. Making of a Nation 
II. Kenya’s Secret History 
III. Nobel Pokot Girl 
IV. Rite of Passage