The recently released Kenyan film, Nairobi Half Life, directed by Tosh Gitonga, has been submitted for the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 85th Academy Awards (Oscars), to take place in Los Angeles in February 2013.
A Ginger INK Films production, Nairobi Half Life features local cast and crew, providing an opportunity for Kenyans to compete with the best in the world cinema arena.
Wambui Kairo, the chairperson of The Kenya Oscars Selection Committee, was full of praise for the film, terming it a masterpiece and saying that it stands a chance for nomination and the global award.
“We as a committee are privileged to have been involved in the process of reviewing Nairobi Half Life and to have found it a suitable Kenyan submission. It is clear from this film that the Kenyan film industry has the capacity to make movies that can compete on a global platform,’ said Wamboi.
Nairobi Half Life premiered at the Westgate Cinemas in Nairobi, Kenya on Thursday, 30 August 2012 and has been screening twice daily to full houses.
The film’s success has influenced public demand to have the film extend its screening to December and has received outstanding reviews from local newspapers and blogs. Indeed, the film has sparked a lot of interest from Kenyans both locally and those in the Diaspora who are eager to watch it.
Prior to its Nairobi premiere, Nairobi Half Life first screened in the 33rd Durban Film Festival (Thursday, 19 July to Sunday, 29 July 2012) where Joseph Wairimu, the film’s main character Mwas, won The Best Actor Award. Director Gitonga also generated very positive buzz.
Said the film’s producer Ginger Siobhain Wilson: “We are extremely proud that Nairobi Half Life has been selected as the Kenyan entry for the Oscars. Following our best actor award at the premiere in Durban and the most successful theatrical release in Kenyan history for a local film, we have another wonderful acknowledgment for our much loved film. The crew and cast were outstanding during the film’s production.’
Commenting on the film, CEO of the Kenya Film Commission Peter Mutie said that it was a good case of a how partnerships on film projects can deliver excellent results.
“The One Fine Day Films workshop, which saw the production of the film, is a partnership project between DW Akademie, One Fine Day Films and Ginger INK Films,’ he said, adding that the film was supported by the Germany Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, The Film & Mediienstifung NRW, the Goethe Institute Nairobi and ARRI Film & TV Services.
To date, the only other movie submitted from Kenya for the same category of the Oscars was Heart of Fire; a Kenyan/German co-production film about the civil war in Eritrea submitted in 2008. The film was not nominated by the Academy for the 2009 Awards.
Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, 10 January.
