SCREEN AFRICA EXCLUSIVE: Chinaka Iwunze writes…Following the premiere of the
Kenya-Germany co-production, Nairobi Half Life, last year at the 33rd Durban
International Film Festival (DIFF) and its best actor award, the film has gone on to
triumph in various other film festivals.
Nairobi Half Life is the second project by One Fine Day Films (OFDF), an alternative
film production company founded by Marie Steinmann and Tom Tykwer, the acclaimed
German director of Run Lola Run, Perfume and The International. The aim of OFDF is
to use the teaching of art and aesthetic principles to allow children and young adults
in disadvantaged regions of our world to discover and explore their artistic talent and
imagination.
The film has been screened in 28 film festivals internationally and won the following
awards: Audience Breakthrough Award (AFI Film Festival 2012); Audience
Breakthrough Award (Film Africa 2012); 5 Kalasha Film and Television Awards [Best
Director, Best Feature Film, Best Lead Actor and Best Original Screenplay]; Special
Jury Awards (Luxor African Film Festival); Best Director – First Feature (Pan African
Film Festival); Golden Impala Award for Best Eastern African Film (Amakula Kampala
International Film Festival 2012) and Best Festival Feature (Take One CFF 2012).
“The film is very popular and loved amongst all who have watched it,’ says Densu
Moseti, Kenya coordinator, OFDF Projects. “The film released in selected cinemas
around the US on 21 March 2013 and the response has been so great, it has been
rescheduled.’
Since then, OFDF has produced another film, Something Necessary, which was
directed by Judy Kibinge and premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam
on 28 January 2013.
They are now currently in pre-production for another workshop feature film, VEVE,
written by Natasha Likimani, and directed by Simon Mukali. OFDF has confirmed to
commence shooting on 6 May 2013.
OFDF has also confirmed new workshops – currently open for entry – to be held from
16 to 27 September 2013. http://www.onefinedayfilms.com/.
