A curated short film program spotlighting exciting new voices from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Reunion Island.
This showcase was curated by Hawa Essuman and Fibby Kioria of Manyatta Screenings and Wanjeri Gakuru of Mengi Mengi Film Club from Kenya. Manyatta Mengi Mashariki is part of the 2025 UK-Kenya Season of Culture, a bilateral cultural exchange celebrating creativity, innovation, and digital engagement presented by The Africa Centre and the British Council.
This showcase offers fresh perspectives on the human condition across the genres of comedy, action and drama. The selected films approach the questions of identity, desire and mortality with warmth, bravery and fascinating interiority.
They shall be presented in two screening blocks with an intermission, and followed by a conversation with a member of the curating team.
The first set includes Rolex (2020) Dir. Benon Mugumbya (Uganda), Scalp Deep (2020) Dir. Naseeba Bagalaaliwo (Uganda), Love & Brain (2020) Dir. Semagngeta Aychiluhem (Ethiopia) and Stero (2022) Dir. Tevin Kimathi & Millan Tarus (Kenya).
The second set consists of Transaction (2025) Dir. Wanjeri Gakuru (Kenya), An Ode To The Time I Loved Bread (2021) Dir. Neema Ngelime (Tanzania) and Set Lam Dir. Vincent Fontano (Reunion Island).
The film screening will be followed by Q&A with curators Wanjeri Gakuru and Fibby Kioria moderated by Dr. John Kavanagh (Ulster Uni).