'ACT OF LOVE’ WINS PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD AT SAUTI ZETU FILM FESTIVAL IN TANZANIA
Yakwetu- 18 Oct 2023
18th October 2023, Nairobi: Inspired by the Writer’s true story, ‘Act of Love’ (16+) is a moving Short Film set in Nairobi, about Juliana (Mwixx Mutinda) - a young mother, who holds on to sanity by a thread, as her world is turned upside down in search of a livelihood.
After already being Selected for the prestigious Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) in Tanzania, Swahili International Film Festival & Awards in Kenya, Fragments Festival in the United Kingdom and the Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC) Film Festival in America, ‘Act of Love’ has just won the People’s Choice Award at the inaugural Sauti Zetu Film Festival, held in Dar-es-Salaam – Tanzania, on 13th & 14th October 2023!
One of only three Awards at the Festival, of 117 Entries from Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa as the name suggests, the People’s Choice Award is determined by the audience, which allows attendees to vote for their favourite Film; thereby recognising the Film that resonates most with the viewers, and effectively engages them in discussions about Human Rights and Social Issues.
“’Act of Love’ is a Film that makes society acknowledge the ugly side of Motherhood”, says Ms. Shelly Gitonga – the Writer. “Statistics show that Post-Partum Depression (PPD) affects 10-20% of Women globally; but in Africa, the situation is worse, with 10-32% of Women suffering from PPD."
“In Kenya, the prevalence of this Maternal Mental Health challenge is reported as 11-13%, affecting the well-being of Mothers, Newborns, Families and Communities”, says Ms. Shirleen Wangari, the Producer, at Blackwell Films. “The condition can impair a Mother’s ability to care for her Child and, in extreme cases, can lead to post-partum Psychosis, Suicide and/or Infanticide.”
On-hand to receive the Award in Tanzania, was the Lead Actress – Mwixx Mutinda, who says: “We had people who had watched ‘Act of Love’ at ZIFF, and they had come to watch it for the second time! During the during the Q & A session, multiple people referred to the Film as an example of how our stories should be told professionally. From their reactions when the movie was screening, they loved the story (or rather felt the pain of Juliana) all the way; from the writing, to the performance to the technical work, and generally how the whole project was executed.”
The official Premiere for ‘Act of Love’ is this Friday 20th October 2023, at Anga Cinema, Diamond Plaza 2 in Parklands. Red Carpet begins at 5.30pm, followed by a Cocktail before the Screening at 7.00pm; then a Panel Discussion with Cast & Crew, moderated by Mugambi Nthiga, from 7.30pm. Tickets are available, at https://app.mymovies.africa/view/f23879c9f04ad9b0
“We are intentionally premiering ‘Act of Love’ on Mashujaa Day”, says Ms. Trushna Buddhdev-Patel, Co- Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Content Director at YAKWETU™ - the Distributor, “to Stand with all the Heroes living with, either themselves or via those they support, Post-Partum Depression. Film has tremendous Power in effectively Communicating this Issue, and being a Catalyst for Conversation - which very often Leads to various Life-changing supportive Actions.”
‘Act of Love’ shall simultaneously Premiere online, and be available in all 195 countries & territories globally, exclusively via Digital Cinema Extension - MyMovies.Africa™, here: https://app.mymovies.africa/view/f23879c9f04ad9b0
Thereafter, there shall be Screenings in February (the Month of Love) and March (the Month of Women) 2024, to underserved Communities of Women and Healthcare Workers around the Kenya and Africa, to raise further Awareness and spark Conversations for supportive Action on Post-Partum Depression.
Notes to Editors:- ‘Act of Love’
After losing her job at a restaurant, Juliana downsizes to a one-roomed house in an informal neighbourhood. Her luck turns when she is shortlisted for an interview, by a top accounting firm! However, before she can leave her house, the landlord - Mr. Mutisya (Dennis Musyoka), gives her a final notice to pay her rent arrears the same morning. Then, her neighbour - Mama Mukami (Veronica Gatuguta) - who had promised to watch her 2-month-old baby, has a campaign engagement for a local politician. Sister Magdalene (Julisa Rowe), despite being sympathetic to Juliana, cannot allow her to leave the baby at the church, due to a ‘pandemic’ of mothers abandoning their children in the compound. Undeterred, Juliana beats the clock and makes it for the interview - her upset baby in her arms. A sequence of events, triggered by her baby's cries, makes Juliana lose her promising interview. Broken, frustrated, and holding onto sanity by a thread, she questions her love for her baby.
More: https://app.mymovies.africa/view/f23879c9f04ad9b0 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27393708/
The making of ‘Act of Love’: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ETIMPIziILNuBK8P1T4zNUMdYlHu5at9
Behind the Scenes photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1sLHVJPZOOx891A3YvMTr31lotejc0hWi?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RgogAE2v3IgO1bAh34vzqoYirXwijzb3?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Epf1AOVZ6zz1rmma1T3TLQwjO1L-l6gq?usp=sharing
- Sauti Zetu Film Festival
The Sauti Zetu Film Festival is the first event of its kind to take place on the mainland of Tanzania. Sauti Zetu is Kiswahili for “Our Voices,” so the Festival’s main goal is to elevate the voices of ordinary citizens, through Films made from a Human Rights standpoint, to ignite dialogues about Civic Space issues, particularly Freedom of Expression and Youth Involvement in Governance & Policy-making, as well as Gender Equality - where the emphasis will be on promoting Equal access to Social and Political opportunities for all.
The inaugural edition took place in Dar-es-Salaam, on 13th & 14th October 2023, soon after the commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child. More: https://medeaafrica.org/sauti-fest/
- Mwixx Mutinda
From the Airwaves to the Silver-screen, Mwixx Mutinda wears many Hats, and she wears them all with Grace and Passion. Mwixx is not just an Artist, Journalist and Philanthropist, she is also a true Embodiment of Versatility. Fluent in Kamba, Kiswahili, English and French, she uses her Linguistic prowess to bridge Cultures and tell compelling Stories. As the driving Force behind the @Care2Share254 Foundation, Mwixx is a Mentor and Beacon of Hope for Children in need. Her dedication to this Cause is nothing short of Inspirational.
More: https://www.instagram.com/mwikilisha/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwixx-mutinda-1b9158263?utm_source=shareutm_campaign=share_viautm_content=profileutm_medium=android_app
- Blackwell Films
Producer of ‘Act of Love’, Blackwell Films is a production company based in Nairobi – Kenya, run by Shirleen Wangari - an Actress Writer and Producer. They provide Filmmaking services and are a licensed Film Agent. Blackwell also acquires Film Licenses, Immigration special Passes and clears Gear for foreign Productions.
More: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirleen-wangari-0b16a237/
- SOME FINE DAY Pix
Executive Producer of ‘Act of Love’, the SOME FINE DAY Pix programme is a continuation of the ONE FINE DAY FILMS Workshop series, which was founded by ONE FINE DAY FILMS, Ginger Ink Films Africa and DW Akademie in Nairobi, Kenya. SOME FINE DAY Pix provides digital state-of-the-art training opportunities for African filmmakers.
More: https://www.somefinedaypix.org/
- Ripple Productions
Director of ‘Act of Love’, Eric M. Mwangi – a Cinematographer and Director with Filmmaking experience in the Eastern and Southern African region, is also Founder of Ripple Productions. An alumnus of the American Film Showcase documentary residency, at the University of Southern California., his goal is to bring an African perspective to the global pool of life-changing stories, thereby, contributing to the expansion of the African Cinema language. Passionate about Filmmaking, Eric has worked with different Producers to execute Projects across multiple locations, meeting different needs with the overall goal of storytelling, achieved through efficiency and creative professionalism.
Mwangi's projects range from Documentaries, TV Commercials and Brand Films to Short Films, working through production houses such as Zero Point Zero Productions [America], Zeleman Productions [Ethiopia], YCF Productions [Zambia], DocuBox [Kenya], One Fine Day Films [Kenya] and Some Fine Day Pix [Kenya], amongst others.
Some of his career highlights include Cinematography for the National Geographic Explorer Series on the ongoing Rhino Resurrection episode with Ami Vitale, and Documentary Filmmaker - Taylor Rees Freesolo; Cinematography for the acclaimed Zambian TV drama ‘UBUNTU’ - which is a first from that country on Showmax; working on a Netflix sizzle reel by Academy Award-winning Director - Rodger Ross William; and Emmy Award-winning Documentary TV Show by Anthony Bourdain – ‘Parts Unknown’, amongst others.
More: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-mwangi-24ab734a/
- DocuBox East Africa Fund
Supporter of ‘Act of Love’, DocuBox exists to enable talented, driven, focused and accountable East African artists to produce unique films that unearth new realities and cross trans-national boundaries. Through training, development and production grants and screenings for people who love documentary films, they promote East African filmmakers and share their unique stories with the world through creative documentary.
More: https://mydocubox.org/
- MyMovies.Africa™, by YAKWETU™ Online Limited
Exclusive Distributor, and Non-Exclusive Retailer, of ‘Act of Love’, YAKWETU™ - meaning both "Of Us" and "For Us" in Kiswahili (the most popular African language), is an Online Home Entertainment & Edutainment System - of Africa, for Africa.
Using their proprietory Kenyan-made Applications, 2023 WIPO Global Award-winning YAKWETU™ is an online Retailer and Distributor of Digital Content, from Africa, to Africa and for Africa - through a Range of thoughtfully Curated branded Services, that supply Consumers with securely Encrypted original Titles, that fairly Pays the Creators, unlike Pirated alternatives. Released on 26th September 2019, their Poof-of-Concept is MyMovies.Africa™, as a Mobile-first Digital Cinema Extension, offering securely Encrypted original Movies from Africa (i.e. New Releases, Classics, Features, Shorts, Animations, Documentaries, etc) on Smart Devices, including Phones, Tablets, Laptops, Smart TVs and Set Top Boxes, across Africa and to her Diaspora in 195 Countries.
Its core Products are a Premium Video On Demand – PVOD (#RentFor2Days) for New Releases, Transactional Video On Demand – TVOD (#RentFor7Days), Electronic Sell Through – EST (#OwnForLife) purchase and Watch Parties via ZOOM, all Accessed here: https://app.mymovies.africa.
More: https://www.yakwetu.africa
- Supporters of the Premiere
PHAT! Productions: https://linkedin.com/in/phat-productions-a684431b5
Xpose: https://xpose.co.ke/
Mental 360: https://mental360.or.ke/
Kenya Film Commission: https://kenyafilmcommission.go.ke/
Anga Cinema: https://cinema.angacinemas.com/
Pyypl: https://www.pyypl.com/
- Captioned Photos
SZFF_Panel_ACT OF LOVE_141023: Panel Discussion, following the ‘Act of Love’ Screening at Sauti Zetu Film Festival, facilitated by Ms. Justina Onguto from Media for Development & Advocacy Tanzania, joined by Lead Actor – Ms. Mwixx Mutinda, and Mr. Juma Saada - Film Producer & Director working in Bongo Cinema.
SZFF_Red Carpet_ACT OF LOVE_141023: Lead Actor - Ms. Mwixx Mutinda on the Red Carpet at the inaugural Sauti Zetu Film Festival, held in Dar-es-Salaam – Tanzania, on 13th to 15th October 2023.
