The Kitale Film Week has today announced its 2025 lineup, selecting Nawi and Our Land, Our Freedom as opening and closing films, respectively. Now in its third edition, the festival will run from 2 February to 9 February, showcasing films from Kenya as well as from Africa. “Kitale will become a cinematic hub, hosting narrative features, documentaries, short films, and animated works that explore themes ranging from social justice to cultural heritage, environmental sustainability, and the transformative power of storytelling,” says Festival Director Peter Pages Bwire. “This year’s lineup reflects the incredible diversity and depth of stories that Africa and the world have to offer,” says Bwire. “We are thrilled to share these remarkable films with our community and the global audience.”
According to Bwire, this year’s selection boasts over 50 films from 20 countries, spanning multiple genres and styles, offering a platform for both established and emerging filmmakers.
Opening film Nawi follows a young girl who escapes her impending marriage and embarks on a journey to reclaim her dream of joining high school. Nawi was selected by the Kenya Film Commission (KFC) as Kenya’s Best International Feature submission to the 2025 Oscars but it didn’t make the final shortlist. For her role as the titular Nawi, newcomer Michelle Lemuya won Best Young/Promising Actor the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in November in Lagos. The film is co-directed by Toby Schmutzler, Kevin Schmutzler, Vallentine Chelluget, Apuu Mourine and co-produced by Lydia Wrensch, Caroline Heim and Brizan Were.
Read Our Review: Kenya’s Oscars 2025 Entry ‘Nawi’ Confronts An Age-Old Turkana Tradition
Closing film Our Land, Our Freedom follows Wanjugu Kimathi’s quest to uncover the truth about her father, the legendary Mau Mau leader Dedan Kimathi, while also exploring British colonial atrocities in Kenya. Working closely with her mother, Mukami Kimathi, their efforts spark a larger movement, transforming Wanjugu into a powerful advocate championing justice and land resettlement for those dispossessed. Our Land, Our Freedom won Best Documentary (Honorable Mention) at DocsBarcelona 2024 and Best Documentary Film at Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) 2024. The film is co-directed by Zippy Kimundu and Meena Nanji, and co-produced by Eliane Ferreira, Meena Nanji and Zippy Kimundu.
Read Our Review: ‘Our Land, Our Freedom’ – A Haunting Ode to the Mau Mau
Also in the lineup is Ousmane Sembène’s Mandabi (The Money Order), Tosh Gitonga’s groundbreaking Nairobi Half Life, AMAA winning romcom Boda Love, and AMAA winning short Counterpunch.
See the full festival lineup below:
Narrative Feature Films
2 Asunder (2024) – Kenya, Directors: Fakii Liwali, Tony Mwaura
A Country Called Ghana (2024) – Ghana, Director: Frank Gharbin
Boda Love (2024) – Kenya, Director: Janet Wells
Half Life (2024) – Uganda, Director: Mulindwa Richard
Hanami (2024) – Cape Verde, Director: Denise Fernandes
Heroes of Africa: Tetteh Quashie (2020) – Ghana, Director: Frank Fiifi Gharbin
I Know My Rights (2024) – Kenya, Director: Lord Muga Brian
Karamoja (2023) – Uganda, Director: Mathew Nabwiso
Kintu (2024) – Uganda, Director: Denis Junior Dhikusooka
Kismet (2024) – Cameroon, Director: Ngang Romanus Ntseh
Maria (2024) – Uganda, Director: Nana Kagga
Mission Xylara (2024) – Uganda, Director: Denis Junior Dhikusooka
Nawi (2024) – Kenya, Directors: Kevin Schmutzler, Toby Schmutzler, Apuu Mourine Munyes, Vallentine Chelluget
Otis Janam (2024) – Kenya, Director: Zippy Okoth
Present Past (2024) – Uganda, Director: N. Salma Bynes
Sabotage (2024) – Uganda, Director: Mathew Nabwiso
The Passenger (2023) – Uganda, Director: Hadijah Nakanjako
Wamaitha (2024) – Kenya, Director: Kang’ethe Mungai
African Classics
Bala Bala Sese (2015) – Uganda, Director: Lukyamuzi Bashir
Dancing in the Dust / Bal Poussière (1989) – Ivory Coast, Director: Henri Duparc
Life Is Rosy / La Vie est Belle (1987) – DR Congo, Directors: Benoît Lamy, Mwezé Ngangura
Mandabi / The Money Order (1968) – Senegal, Director: Ousmane Sembène
Nairobi Half Life (2012) – Kenya, Director: Tosh Gitonga
The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun / La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil (1999) – Senegal, Director: Djibril Diop Mambéty
Documentary Feature Films
Afrikki (2024) – Senegal, Director: Gaëlle Le Roy
Brief Tender Light (2023) – Ghana, Director: Arthur Musah
Descendants of Broken Heroes (2024) – Kenya, Director: John Waiganjo
Here We Are (2024) – Dominican Republic, Director: Violeta Lockhart
Limo On The Run (2024) – Kenya, Directors: Njoki Muhoho, Hanigun Kwenya
Our Land, Our Freedom (2024) – Kenya, Directors: Meena Nanji, Zippy Kimundu
The Destiny of a Truck Driver (2024) – Burkina Faso, Director: Yssouf Koussé
Short Films
1992 (2024) – Kenya, Director: Gilbert Lukalia
All Equal! (2024) – Senegal, United Kingdom, Director: Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba Diop
Angel in the Stone (2024) – Nigeria, Director: Doyinsola Ajayi
Art Piece (2024) – Zambia, Director: Chizzi Banda
As I Dream (2024) – Uganda, Director: Eunice Acan
Bahari Bingwa (2024) – Kenya, Director: Samuel Wanjohi
Binti Maji and the Ocean (2020) – Kenya, Directors: Sheldon Mutei Ndumbu, Gift Kyansimire Oroni
Black Skin (2024) – Central African Republic, Directors: Nephtalie Tyrana Tobona, Daniel Ananias Momou-Mongui, Safari Ally Sengaire
Broken (2024) – Uganda, Director: Clive Nshiime
Counterpunch (2024) – Kenya, Uganda, Director: Rodney Williams
Dawn After Darkness (2024) – Rwanda, Director: Muhire Methode
Death Valley (2023) – Kenya, Director: Kennedy Kyalo
Emunyenye (2024) – Uganda, Director: Brian Vons Mukisa
Endless Loop (2023) – Nigeria, Director: ‘Che Messiah
Fatherhood (2024) – Kenya, Uganda, Director: Amisha Mukasa
Fractured (2024) – Uganda, Director: Josephine Mary Namirembe
Gas (2024) – Kenya, Directors: Emmanuel Chege, Rebecca Keli
Grogans Lodge (2023) – Kenya, Director: Isaya Evans
Half Chocolate Half Vanilla (2024) – Uganda, Director: Nodryn Evanci Kabuye
He Knows This Place (2024) – Kenya, United States, Director: Melissa Lefkowitz
I Too, Crave Death (2024) – Nigeria, Director: Uchenna Ugwu
Kuyo (2024) – Kenya, Director: Don Otieno Okinyi
Love Sweet Sound (2019) – Kenya, Director: Neha Manoj Shah
Mata Hari (2024) – Kenya, Director: Calvin Mandaga Oyula
Ndoto (2023) – Kenya, Director: Omar Hamza
Njambi And The Missing Bananas (2024) – Kenya, Director: Wanyuru Muiruri
Obukade Busatu (2024) – Uganda, Director: Nsiima Chloe Elizabeth
Roots of Renewal (2024) – Kenya, Director: Franklyne Mudulia Manono
Rudi (2024) – Kenya, Director: Derrick Njuguna Kinyanjui
Salamatu’s Rhapsody (2024) – Nigeria, Directors: Abu-bakr S. Adamu, Oluwatimilehin Adejumo
Sounds of Silence (2024) – Kenya, Director: Joan Mwihaki Kabugu
Stray Flower (2022) – Namibia, Germany, Director: Nandi Nastasja
The Boy From Kampala (2024) – Uganda, Director: Vieri KavumaThe Day I Will Never Forget (2024) – Kenya, Director: Viboks Omondi
The Equalizer (2024) – Kenya, Director: Brenda Maina
The Fetish / Le Fétiche (2023) – Côte d’Ivoire, Director: Kouamé Mathurin Samuel Codjovi
The Little Things (2024) – Kenya, Director: Jevin Mulwa
The Sorghum Sisters (2024) – Kenya, Director: Tabitha Maina
The Street Chase (2024) – Kenya, Director: Rabin Lucas Makori
Thief (2024) – Kenya, Directors: Andrew Evans Odera, Greg Kiwo Maole
TicTok (2024) – Central African Republic, Directors: Cassandra Ndouba, Aminou Mohamadou, Elvera Nkodia
Tiny Winnie (2023) – Kenya, Director: Joshua Kasyu Wambua
Unasemaje? (2024) – Tanzania, Director: Kelvin Kagambo
Unyagoni: Bahati’s Sex Education Journey (2024) – Kenya, Director: Saitabao Kaiyare
