WANURI KAHIU’S PUMZI FILM: THE TRAILER

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.”

WANURI: I WANT MAATHAI TO SEE MY SCI-FI

Kenya’s first science fiction movie Pumzi produced by Wanuri Kahiu was launched at the opening of the Kenya International Film Festival at the National Museums’ Louis Leakey Auditorium.
After the 29 minute-film was over; it was evident that the audience was wowed. Even Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, the chief guest of the night, was “at a loss of words.” He said, “Wanuri is a candidate for a Nobel Prize, she has taken Wangari Maathai’s concept a notch higher.”
To this Wanuri who had earlier on in the night described the making of the movie a “labour of love” said, “I would like Wangari to watch it because she inspired me.”
She dedicated the movie to her young niece Karimi who is part of Kenya’s future generation.
Pumzi is about Kenya at a time when water is a scarce resource and everyone lives inside Maitu community. The lead character Asha, a bald headed girl, works as a curator in the natural virtual museum. She is the only one who dares to escape from the community because she believes there is life on the outside.
Hollywood actor Giancarlo Esposito lauded Pumzi as “creative, very inviting and well shot.”
“The idea of it links a very dramatic idea to a reality of what is happening in the world. I think this is what film is all about. This is why I make movies to raise people from one consciousness to another to allow them to know that you may take for granted the glass of water you have to drink, but you shouldn’t anymore.”

Photos/ Duncan Ndotono

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(((((((())))))DISTRICT 9 CREW WORKED WITH KENYAN FILMMAKER

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DISTRICT 9 CREW WORKED WITH KENYAN FILMMAKER

Filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu has just completed shooting Kenya’s first ever science fiction movie. The film, Pumzi (Air) was shot in South Africa. It is a futuristic short film about Kenya at a time when water is a scarce resource and everyone lives inside The Maitu Community. The lead character, Asha, is the only one who dares to escape from the community because she believes there is life on the outside.
Wanuri said she worked with Inspired Minority Pictures the same production team that worked on the Sci-Fi movie District Nine currently showing in cinemas.
Africa and as such it looked like a logical choice. It’s a beautiful film as a result.”
Pumzi will be screened at the opening of the Kenya International Film Festival (KIFF) on October 21.