The films that lit up the Kalashas

Peter Gitau, Foi Wambui, Malik Lemuel and Best supporting actor in a film Mc Bull (John Ndegwa) during the Kalasha Awards Gala, 2021. [David Gichuru, Standard]

Last week saw the 2021 Kalasha Awards held, the cream in what has been quite an eventful year for the local film industry.

Awards in the film industry are a key part of motivating artistes and appreciating the hard work, skill and craft that goes into film productions.

And they are not just ‘shiny trophies’, according to Australian magazine The Conversation. They are critical for the financing of films and often determine how much actors and producers will be paid.

“Hence, it is sometimes argued that nominations matter as much as the awards, by creating extra buzz around films, directors and actors. Nominations for the Oscars can add around Sh2.25 billion (or $20 million) to the total income made by the film. Wins are even more lucrative,” The Conversation writes in its piece - The ‘Oscar Halo’ – how awards and nominations direct where the money goes in the film industry.

It adds that film festivals are crucial for the success of films, and the future careers of directors and actors.

“Awards at festivals add prestige to the presented films and filmmakers and are a means to finance their projects. Festivals are attended by distributors, producers and executives. Distributors are responsible for the marketing of a film. The buzz created around a film at a festival can determine whether a distributor picks it up for a wider public release, often in several countries.”

And the Kalasha Awards were undoubtedly a glamorous night ripe for networking, bringing together celebrated performers and their talented crews.

This year’s awards saw big wins for actress Sarah Hassan, who took home the award for Best Lead Actress for her role in the film Just In Time as well as Best Lead Actress in a TV drama for Crime and Justice.

Just In Time is a heart-warming, wholesome romantic comedy. It details how Hassan’s character, Muthoni, navigates job loss, her relationships with her siblings and even a potential love interest.

And it’s no surprise that Hassan’s love interest on the film, Ghanaian actor Mawuli Gavor, who plays Kobena, also took home one of the most coveted awards, Best Lead Actor in a film.

Sarah Hassan took home the award for Best Lead Actress. [Courtesy]

The film shone through the evening, winning Best Feature Film after facing stiff competition from action film Mission to Rescue, Feature Film Bangarang, which is based on true events of post-election violence, romantic drama Nafsi and Lame, one of last year’s winning projects for KFC’s Film Empowerment Programme.

Other wins include Kutu for Best Short Film, Fikirini for Best Local Language Film, XYZ Show for Best TV comedy among others.

Last year, the prestigious award show was different, having fallen into the then-new pandemic period, that saw it take place virtually, with its theme being ‘Celebrating 10 years of quality African Stories’.

The biggest winner of the event was the thriller film 40 sticks which bagged a whopping nine awards.

In true intriguing, horrific style, the movie is about death-row prisoners trapped in a crashed bus in the middle of nowhere. They quickly discover that there is a killer lurking in the shadows, creating a thick plot of action-packed television.

The movie scooped the accolades for Best Feature Film, Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound Design, Best editor, Best Supporting Actor in a Film, Best Lighting Technician, Best Production Design and Best Director.

Actor Robert Agengo, who plays the role of Pablo on the film said in a 2020 interview that preparing for the part was easy and came naturally to him.

“I try to be as natural or as truthful to the situation as I can be. It depends on how the film makes me feel; I just follow the feelings and ride them as you would ride a wave on water,” Agengo told YouTuber Shaheed ‘Sak’ Khan.

The film’s director, Victor Gatonye said in another sit-down with a local TV station that the storyline was so fresh and new, unlike anything that had ever been done, so much so that he couldn’t immediately place specific characters for certain roles.

“That’s why we held open auditions, letting whoever’s time it was to shine do so. It was hard to pick actors. I would say in an audition, come as you are, as a blank canvas and don’t overdo your dressing and presentation either. Assume that it is my job and my team’s to make you up how we require for the project,” he said in advice to actors seeking opportunities.

The wins witnessed over the last two years reflect an award ceremony that is open and appreciative of the diverse genres in film, seeing that a romantic comedy caused all the buzz this year while a thriller stole the show in 2020.

In 2018, the Best Feature Film was Subira, a drama that starred celebrated actresses Brenda Wairimu and Nice Githinji. It chronicles the story of a free-spirited young lady from Lamu who seeks to find herself in the wake of societal expectations due to her people’s customs and beliefs.

The drama is a gripping tale based on true events, with hints of romance and a deep depiction of Kenya’s rich culture in the coastal region.

Poacher, an action-packed 29- minute production won the Best Short Film that year. It is a story about a desperate farmer who gets into trouble after stealing a stash of blood ivory from a gang of international terrorists.

It stars local talents Brian Ogola, Lenny Juma and Davina Leonard. The short film grips the attention of viewers from the first minute. It engages them in the tumultuous tactics used by poachers while raising awareness of the growing crisis that threatens the country’s wildlife population.

The film made history as the first local movie to be featured on the international media streaming site Netflix.

The Kenya Film Commission notes on its website that one of its aims is to provide leadership and support to the industry, providing a competitive framework good for growth and development.

“By recognising our own levels of excellence and the achievements of our film practitioners, we set benchmarks for the film-makers of the future, and encourage the expansion of the industry,” reads in part the description of how Kalasha came to be in the State Agency’s website.

It adds: “Through the establishment of a set of regulations for the Awards which are both fair-minded and democratic, the Kenya Film Commission hopes to encourage a healthy level of competition amongst film-makers which will lead to higher levels of good practice within the industry.”