Award-winning ACT OF LOVE Screens at Alliance Francaise de Nairobi, courtesy of BENEATH THE TIDES!

Award-winning ACT OF LOVE Screens at Alliance Francaise de Nairobi, courtesy of BENEATH THE TIDES!

28th August 2024, Nairobi: With an astounding 18 Festival Selections, 24 Nominations and 10 Awards, within just 11 Months from its Premiere, ACT OF LOVE shall Screened & Discussed at Alliance Francaise de Nairobi, this Friday 30th August 2024 from 5.30pm, for Free; courtesy of LBx, via their BENEATH THE TIDES initiative, supported by the Hii Stage Performance & Touring Grant from HEVA Fund and the French Government through the Creation Africa programme.

Inspired by the Writer – Shelly Gitonga’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.

“ACT OF LOVE is a Film that makes society acknowledge the ugly side of Motherhood”, says Ms. Shelly Gitonga – the Award-winning Scriptwriter. “Statistics show that Post-Partum Depression affects 10-20% of Women globally; but in Africa, the situation is worse, with upto 32% of Women suffering from PPD.”

“Since June, we have screened ACT OF LOVE to full houses, in Kisumu and Mombasa, as part of BENEATH THE TIDES”, says Ms. Chloe Genga, Impact Producer at LightBox Africa. “Friday shall be our final Screening in this Series, where we look forward to raising further Awareness and sparking Conversations for supportive Action on Post-Partum Depression, Maternal Health and Mental Health”.

“In Kenya, the prevalence of the Maternal Mental Health challenge of PPD is reported as 11-13%, affecting the well-being of Mothers, Newborns, Families and Communities”, says Mr. Erick Mwangi, the Award-winning Director of ACT OF LOVE, at Ripple Productions, who shall be on the Discussion Panel at BENEATH THE TIDES. “This 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. As such, ACT OF LOVE is such important Film, that is currently Breaking the Silence on Post-Partum Depression in Kenya and Africa.”

Since its Premiere in October 2023, ACT OF LOVE has Won Best Lighting, Best Editing and Best Sound Design at the 13th KALASHA International Film & TV Awards in Kenya, during March 2024; the Nile Grand Prize for Best Short Film , at the 13th Luxor African Film Festival in Egypt, during February 2024; Best Short Film and Best Scriptwriter at the 1st Mombasa International Film Festival in Kenya, during January 2024; Best Short Film at the 9th MASHARIKI African Film Festival in Kigali – Rwanda, during November 2023; Runner-up for Best Kenyan Short at the Under Our Skin International Film Festival for Human Rights in Kenya, during November 2023; and the People’s Choice Award at the inaugural Sauti Zetu Film Festival in Dar-es-Salaam – Tanzania, during October 2023.

To-date ACT OF LOVE, has also been Selected for the prestigious 2023 Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) in Tanzania, 2023 Swahili International Film Festival & Awards in Kenya, 2023 Fragments Festival in the United Kingdom, 2023 Kugoma Film Forum in Mozambique, 2023 Fankeenna Film Festival in Somaliland, 2023 Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC) Film Festival in America, 2023 Global Film Exhibition in America, 2023 Botswana International Film Festival, Kenya Film Commission’s Reel County Film Festival 2024, 2024 Kitale Film Week in Kenya, 2024 Bantu Film Festival in Botswana and 2024 FAME Shorts Festival in Cape Town – South Africa.

“We are so Proud of the Cast & Crew of this beautiful Film”, says Ms. Trushna Buddhdev-Patel, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Content Director of YAKWETU™ - the exclusive Distributor. “As well as having ACT OF LOVE worldwide on our own MyMovies.Africa™, the Film is also now Available for Licensing to other Video On Demand (VOD) services, Television and Non-Theatrical opportunities like Airlines, so that as many Africans and Diasporans as possible, can watch this important Title.”

ACT OF LOVE was Produced by Blackwell Films, in conjunction with Ripple Productions, through Funding by Some Fine Day Pix, GIZ, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation & Development of Germany and DocuBox East Africa Fund; with Support from Naomi Mburuh Films, Film Studios and Jenga Leo.

Notes to Editors:

01). 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

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

02). BENEATH THE TIDES, by LBx Africa

LBx Africa offers Impact Production services, for both in-house and external Projects, on a consultancy basis. As one of the few Companies in the Region, that combines Social Impact strategy and Filmmaking, we aim to create customized experiences for each Project we undertake. We recognise that Film Distribution is not limited to Theatrical Screenings and Streaming Platforms, but can also be used as a powerful Tool to drive sustainable Change in Communities.

Their BENEATH THE TIDES is a Collection of six Kenyan short Films, that have Screened to Audiences for Free in Kisumu, Nakuru and Mombasa, from June to-date, with the Finale scheduled for Friday 30th August 2024, at Alliance Francaise de Nairobi.

The collection is Directed and Produced by a diverse array of talent from Kenya and Uganda, boasting an impressive Cast, including: Mbeki Mwalimu & Faith Kibathi in 'Baba’, Malik Lemuel & Hillary Namanje in 'Mawimbi', Lucarelli Onyango & Justin Mirichii in 'Stero', and Lydia Gitachu & Chris Kamau in 'Ziwa’.

This event on Friday, is not just a Film Screening, but an immersive experience under the theme “Youth Voices: Bridging Culture and the New Wave of African Cinema”. The Nairobi event aims to honour our rich cultural Heritage, while also embracing the fresh perspectives of young Filmmakers. The ultimate objective is to ignite creativity among youth, encouraging them to convey their unique narratives through the compelling medium of Storytelling.

The post-screening discussion will feature discussions with some of the Cast & Crew to provide the audience with a unique opportunity to engage with the creators and delve into their journeys and experiences in making these impactful films.

Thanks to the generous support of HEVA Fund, Alliance Française Nairobi, the French Embassy in Kenya, and the French Government’s Creation Africa programme, this event is FREE to the public.

More: https://www.lbxafrica.com and Official Tralier - Beneath The Tides (youtube.com)

03). Hii Stage Performance & Touring Grant

During May 2024, the vibrant and diverse arts scene of Kenya received a significant boost with the launch of the Hii Stage Performance & Touring Grant. HEVA Fund partnered with the Alliance Française Nairobi to develop, launch and implement this grant fund, which is generously supported by the French Government, through the Creation Africa programme. The latter is aligned with the Kenyan Government’s Talanta Hela initiative, to boost the cultural and creative industries.

With a substantial grant of 120,000 Euros, this initiative aimed to elevate Kenyan artists in the Film and performance arts sectors, providing them with the resources to showcase their original works to Audiences across the country.

Having announced a Call for Applications in November 2023, the Hii Stage Performance & Touring Grant invited creative practitioners in the performing arts to apply for a chance to tour their original works across the Creative Arts Spaces in Kenya (CASiK) in five counties: Kisumu, Nakuru, Nairobi, Mombasa and Lamu.

A total of 177 Applications were received, and following a rigorous selection process, 11 exceptional Artists - from a diversity of art forms, including stand-up comedy, experimental theatre, multi-genre music and contemporary dance, were chosen to receive funding to realise their creative visions and contribute to the cultural landscape of our Country.

These included Juliet Onyach (Nile Dawta), Adam Chienjo, Sharon Ong’ayo Liboi, LBx Africa, Amandeep Jagde, Maina Munune, Kibanda Theatre, Harrison (Stom) Wabuko, Wanjiku Mwawuganga, Nairobi Performing Arts Studio and Katoi & the Mijikenda Jazz Band.

The grant has provided essential resources and funding to empower the awarded Artists to explore new ideas, push boundaries and engage audiences across the country in meaningful ways.

Hii Stage is a testament to the commitment of the program's financial and implementation partners to foster cultural exchange and support the flourishing arts community in Kenya.

All the 11 Projects awarded funding under the Hii Stage Performance & Touring Grant are original works that contain African social, cultural and/or political themes, and employ strategies that encourage local communities to access cultural spaces.

More: hevafund.com/hii-stage

04). 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/

05). Blackwell Films

Producer of ACT OF LOVE, Blackwell Films is a production company based in Nairobi – Kenya, run by Shirleen Wangari - an Award-winning 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: http://www.blackwellfilms.com

06). 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/

07). 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/

08). 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 Proof-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 and Smart TVs, 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 (Group Screenings), all Accessed here: https://app.mymovies.africa.

More: https://www.yakwetu.africa