Bigger, better, Kalasha

Geoffrey Korio and Gerald Langiri take a look at the progress of the Kalasha Film and Television Awards, whose fourth edition is set to take place tomorrow at the KICC.

The relentless efforts that was started in June 2009 by the Kenya Film Commission gave birth to the now coveted Kalasha Film and Television Awards – a glamorous gala that aims at recognising, appreciating, and rewarding the efforts of the Kenyan film fraternity.

Kalasha was formulated to distinguish three key aspects of the entertainment industry: film, which comprises full length, short films and documentaries; Television and Special Awards (the Ujenzi, Kituo and Mfalme awards). And while this programme has been widely accepted by members of the public, critics have speculated that there hasn’t been much competition. This has been fuelled by reasoning that there have not been enough movies focusing on the home scene (Kenya) and some latent fear of having a monopoly of winners, year in year out.

Archive of winners

However, a closer look at previous Kalasha awards suggest otherwise. The 2009 winners are still highly regarded and recognized as crème de la crème of the film business- ranging from the From a Whisper director Wanuri Kahiu, Peter King in Formula X, Abubakar Mwenda, also in From a Whisper, Janet Kirina of Higher Learning, Lydia Gitachu in Unseen Unsung Unforgotten, Judy Kibinge in Killer Necklace, Joseph Kinuthia (Omosh) of Tahidi High, Jackline Nyaminde (Wilbroda) of Papa Shirandula  and  the legendary Benson Wanjau (Ojwang) of Vitimbi, just to mention but a few.

The 2010 version saw an increase in the number of films submitted (153 films) and therefore, stiffer competition. Notable names included: Samson Odhiambo in Soul Boy, Geoffery Jefferson Ong’ongo and Andrew Mungai in Togetherness Supreme, Lucy Nyaga in Shida, Carole Gikandi Omondi and Ummul Rajab in Ndoto za Elibidi, Wanuri Kahiu in Pumzi,  Billy Kahora in Soul Boy,

TV personalities included Charles Bukeko of the Papa Shirandula fame alongside Kenneth Gichoya, Elizabeth Wanjiru Bageine of Mother in Law, Hillary Ng’weno of Makers of a Nation and Jeff Koinange of Capital Talk. Oliver Litondo alongside Charles Simpson were awarded for Lifetime Achievement awards.

Controversy

Few will forget the controversy that dogged the Kalasha 2011 awards- its third edition- when one actor and activist, Roy Ogolla, accused Kenya Film Commission of incompetence and brought forth corruption and misappropriation of funds allegations when the Sh8Million budget set for Kalasha 2011 apparently overshot by 4million.

 Nonetheless away from the off-screen drama, the on-screen winners in the Kalasha 2011 awards included: Joy Lusige, Mark Mutahi and Bob Nyanja, Jawar-Ian, Serah Ndanu, Lwanda; all in Rugged Priest, Kamau Mbaya-Obi in The Briefcase, Millicent Mugadi-Esther in Me My Wife and her Guru, Raymond Ofula, Richard Mwako in Nairobi Law, Nice Githinji of Changing Times, Vincent Mbaya in Be the Judge, Nelly Kuria –Abby in Mheshimiwa while the Life time achievement award went to the evergreen  Dr David Mulwa.

This year’s list of nominees, however, still has some familiar names. Jitu Films was nominated for 15 awards followed by Cinematic Solutions with 10.

The award ceremony, set to take place tomorrow at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) has seen a total of 97 films submitted, a decline compared to the 129 films submitted last year. There is however a notable sprinkle of new strong entries like Nairobi Half Life, Lost in Africa and Shattered, which have dominated various film categories while Lies That Bind and Mali have taken the bigger chunk of television categories’ glare. 

Of note, in the voting and awarding criteria, Kenya Film Commission heeded to the public’s outcry to have more voting power handed over to them and 30% was given. This came after a poll conducted by popular website for actors www.actors.co.ke showed that the public wanted their veto power increased from 10% to 40% for future Kalasha awards.

Also, Nigerian actress and star Rita Dominic (Shattered) was included in the nomination for best actress in a film category alongside Patricia Kihoro (Miss Nobody) and Joan Amara (Miss Pathetic).

While defending the nomination, Mr Eston Munyi of the Commission said;

“Our work as the nomination academy was to watch and review the movies submitted for Kalasha and choose the best of the best. We did so and felt that Rita Dominic was outstanding and deserved to be nominated in that category for her performance in Shattered, which is a Kenyan movie. It is up to the public now to choose who they feel should win in that category.”