Yakwetu


lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostr navigation et dolore magna aliqua.


Mark Dinn


 [Capital FM] New international Kenyan film CALL ME QUEEN is set to premiere in Kenya on 17 October 2026 at the NBO Film Festival (Prestige Ngong Road from 6 PM), with members of the film's Kenyan and international cast and crew expected to attend the special premiere. The film will then launch in cinemas across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda from 30 October 2026. Tickets to the exclusive Africa red-carpet premiere are now available via YAKWETU at 2,500 KES which includes a welcome cocktail, exclusive screening, 

 Source: https://www.yorubafm.com/kenya-international-kenyan-film-call-me-queen-to-premiere-in-kenya-on-october-17/

Kenya: International Kenyan Film ‘Call Me Queen’ to Premiere in Kenya On October 17

<figcaption>
 Producer of 'Call Me Queen' Gian Piero Ringel (centre) with actresses Nice Githinji (left) and Michelle Tiren at the premiere during NBO Film Festival on October 17, 2026.
</figcaption>


Younger generations may not fully understand just how terrifying the HIV/AIDS crisis was in the 1980s and 90s. There was a time in this region when a HIV-positive diagnosis was tantamount to a death sentence. For the poor, the antiretroviral drugs were far too expensive, and the worst part was the stigma.

Emily Atef's new drama Call Me Queen captures that remarkably well, offering a stark portrait of the immense challenges people faced back then.



Source: https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/magazine/90s-kenyan-drama-marred-by-production-blind-spots-5652608


Watch on YAKWETU here: https://www.yakwetu.africa/view/116808fcbe1991a8-call-me-queen

90s Kenyan drama marred by production blind spots

DOWNLOAD <a href="https://info-anyikopr.nmailroute.net/x/d?c=53941305&l=6527e7b8-8b99-4aea-a659-ad8ad3538bf0&r=cadff03a-1520-4179-b18d-05323557eed7" target="_blank"> IMAGES FROM THE NAIROBI PREMIERE</a> | <a href="https://info-anyikopr.nmailroute.net/x/d?c=53941305&l=f6b0b31d-d326-4082-9c77-b3d21bd5405e&r=cadff03a-1520-4179-b18d-05323557eed7" target="_blank"> REEL HIGHLIGHT OF THE PREMIERE FILM POSTERS</a> | <a href="https://info-anyikopr.nmailroute.net/x/d?c=53941305&l=21163a63-af43-4d28-9e9e-d603e5fdd23c&r=cadff03a-1520-4179-b18d-05323557eed7" target="_blank"> ACTORS PRESS PICS</a> | <a href="https://info-anyikopr.nmailroute.net/x/d?c=53941305&l=23d93764-d40a-483c-8017-dd118973e1c7&r=cadff03a-1520-4179-b18d-05323557eed7" target="_blank"> FILM STILLS</a>

 

International film CALL ME QUEEN made its highly anticipated Kenyan debut at the 2026 NBO Film Festival (Prestige Cinema, Ngong Road on 17 October, 2026) ahead of its theatrical release across East Africa on 30 October, 2026 followed by an <a href="https://info-anyikopr.nmailroute.net/x/d?c=53941305&l=62e71ea9-937f-45c5-bd69-2b719ddf32e6&r=cadff03a-1520-4179-b18d-05323557eed7" target="_blank"> online release via YAKWETU™</a> from 13 November 2026.

 

The red carpet premiere welcomed German producer Gian Piero Ringel, director Emily Atef and lead Rwandan-French actress Eliane Umuhire, alongside Kenyan actors: Nice Githinji, Helen Keli, Peter Kawa, Michelle Tiren and Lwanda Jawar Kotengo, among the film's 150+ Kenyan cast and crew members.

 

Directed by award-winning German-born French-Iranian filmmaker Emily Atef, CALL ME QUEEN stars Eliane Umuhire as Queen Achungo, alongside Irish actress Denise Gough, with Charlie Carrick, Dominic West, Laurent Lafitte and Danny Sapani. The Kenyan cast includes Michelle Tiren, Nice Githinji, Lwanda Jawar, Helen Keli, Peter Kawa and Eddie Kimani, bringing together an international ensemble for a story firmly rooted in Kenya's history and social realities.

 

Set in Nairobi during the 1990s, against the backdrop of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, CALL ME QUEEN follows Queen, a Rwandan refugee and single mother living in Korogocho, whose determination to provide for her children, leads her to become a housekeeper for Anna, an international journalist living in an affluent Nairobi suburb. What begins as an employer–employee relationship, develops into an unexpected friendship between two women from vastly different worlds, challenging their perspectives on privilege, inequality and the value of human life.

 

When Queen discovers she is HIV-positive, her personal struggle becomes part of a wider fight for access to life-saving medication, at a time when treatment remains beyond the reach of millions. As Queen and Anna confront the inequalities shaping access to healthcare, the film examines the intersection of poverty, pharmaceutical patents, race and political responsibility, while highlighting the resilience of individuals and communities determined to fight for change.

 

Speaking about the film, director Emily Atef describes Queen as "The undisputed heroine of the film. A woman whose resilience and natural leadership emerge, as her personal struggle grows into a fight for her community. Her strength, humour, fearlessness and innate intelligence is what makes her a born leader. Queen and the people around her, take control of their own struggle, and fight for change on their own terms."

 

Inspired by true events, the screenplay is based on veteran foreign correspondent Lara Santoro's novel MERCY. It was written by Atef, alongside Kenyan-Ghanaian screenwriter Hawa Essuman, German filmmaker Josune Hahnheiser and British writer Jeannine Dominy. The production brings together international filmmaking talent, and a largely female Kenyan cast and crew, placing local experiences at the centre of a story with global relevance.

 

Distributed across East Africa by Crimson Multimedia, and by YAKWETU™, CALL ME QUEEN opens in cinemas across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda on 30 October 2026, followed by an <a href="https://info-anyikopr.nmailroute.net/x/d?c=53941305&l=62e71ea9-937f-45c5-bd69-2b719ddf32e6&r=cadff03a-1520-4179-b18d-05323557eed7" target="_blank"> online release via YAKWETU™</a>. Audiences can look forward to experiencing this powerful story of friendship, resilience and the fight for a more equitable world.

Trushna Buddhdev-Patel, Managing Director of Crimson Multimedia and Co-Founder of YAKWETU™ says, "This film deserves to be watched widely, we have therefore pushed for a release across East Africa's cinemas, and also Online via YAKWETU™ where cinemas cannot reach the audience."

 

The film is an international production by Ringel Film, Les Films Pelléas, Cowboy Films and Streetcar Productions, in co-production with Zischlermann Filmproduktion, Construction Film and Ascent Films. It is dedicated to the memory of Appie Matere, the visionary Kenyan film and television producer, who collaborated with Ascent Films as a producer on the project before her passing. The distributors invite partnerships for impact screenings, focused on HIV/AIDS prevention, testing & treatment, equal access to healthcare, women's empowerment and social justice. 

 

With its compelling performances and intimate portrayal of two women whose lives become intertwined, CALL ME QUEEN revisits a defining period in Kenya's history, while raising questions about dignity, equality and access to life-saving treatment that remain relevant today. The film offers audiences an opportunity to engage with a Kenyan story, told through an international lens, bringing renewed attention to the people and communities whose struggles have shaped the fight for healthcare justice.

 

In Memory of Appie Matere - a visionary Kenyan film and TV Producer whose lasting contribution to the industry continues to be felt. Before her passing, she collaborated with Ascent Films as a Producer on CALL ME QUEEN.

 

CONNECT WITH CALL ME QUEEN & LINK TO TICKETS VIA

<a href="https://info-anyikopr.nmailroute.net/x/d?c=53941305&l=43036b8f-d9ac-47d7-9ff1-498fc1aaa388&r=cadff03a-1520-4179-b18d-05323557eed7" target="_blank">INSTAGRAM </a>| <a href="https://info-anyikopr.nmailroute.net/x/d?c=53941305&l=1a13c01a-9fed-4bdc-a9ae-89fc9cb34b78&r=cadff03a-1520-4179-b18d-05323557eed7" target="_blank"> TIKTOK </a> | <a href="https://info-anyikopr.nmailroute.net/x/d?c=53941305&l=62e71ea9-937f-45c5-bd69-2b719ddf32e6&r=cadff03a-1520-4179-b18d-05323557eed7" target="_blank"> YAKWETU </a>

 

EDITOR'S NOTES:

CALL ME QUEEN is an international production by Ringel Film, Les Films Pelléas, Cowboy Films and Streetcar Productions, in co-production with Zischlermann Filmproduktion, Construction Film and Ascent Films. The film's creative team includes acclaimed cinematographer Hélène Louvart and editor Anne Fabini. Director Emily Atef's previous films include '3 Days in Quiberon' and 'More Than Ever', with her work receiving recognition at major international film festivals including Cannes and the Berlinale. With CALL ME QUEEN, she brings an international filmmaking perspective to a story firmly rooted in Nairobi, combining an intimate story of friendship with a wider examination of power, inequality and self-determination.

 

 

ABOUT CALL ME QUEEN'S DISTRIBUTOR IN EAST AFRICA 
 

Crimson Multimedia Limited is a leading film distribution company, championing theatrical cinema across East and West Africa. With a strong focus on bringing the world's most compelling films to African audiences, Crimson represents a prestigious portfolio of international studios and production houses, including Walt Disney, Warner Bros., AA Films, Zee Films, Marudhar, Dharma Productions and Moviegoers. Beyond international cinema, Crimson Multimedia has played a pivotal role in the growth and visibility of African filmmaking, supporting the theatrical distribution and successful cinema runs of acclaimed Kenyan productions, including Nairobi Half Life, Rafiki, Softie, Supa Modo and Kati Kati, amongst others. With a deep understanding of African audiences, cinema networks and the evolving theatrical landscape, Crimson Multimedia bridges international studios and local filmmakers with audiences across the continent. The company continues to champion theatrical storytelling, local filmmaking and the power of cinema to connect audiences across Africa and the world.


ABOUT CALL ME QUEEN'S RETAILER IN EAST AFRICA 

Retailer of Digital Content from Africa, YAKWETU™ – meaning both "Of Us" and "For Us" in Kiswahili – is a Kenya-based Entertainment & Edutainment Platform that protects & monetises encrypted Movies, Television Programmes, Music Videos, Podcasts, AudioBooks and Games from Africa, to Africa and for Africa.

YAKWETU™ is the first-ever Winner from Africa, and from the Global Creative Industry, of the 2023 World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Awards, for our Innovations. YAKWETU™ has developed groundbreaking Applications to reform illegal Movie Shops (YAKWETU™ Plug & Play) and informal Cinemas (YAKWETU™ Sinema), throughout the Global South.

As well as our own FinTech, called USAWA™ for the equitable sharing of Revenue in realtime, with Creatives, inclusive of Reverse eTIMS Invoicing and the Payment of Withholding Tax, via Integrations with Kenya Revenue Authority. Then, our RAFIKI™ Affiliate Programme provides every Customer, Partner and Creative of YAKWETU™, to earn from every new Member they Onboard, from every Transaction, for Life. USAWA™ and RAFIKI™ align with YAKWETU™'s ambition of Shared Prosperity.

While all of our Innovations align with the Sustainable Development Goals of 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth ) and 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure). Meanwhile, our Android Mobile and TV Apps, YAKWETU™ (formerly MyMovies.Africa™) were named 3rd (Bronze) most popular Streaming & Distribution Platform in Kenya, at the 2026 Click Awards, after Skiza by Safaricom (Silver) and Netflix (Gold).


For media enquiries & interviews, contact us via press@anyiko-pr.com | +254 721 368 983

FOLLOWING ITS NAIROBI PREMIERE, INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED FILM 'CALL ME QUEEN' OPENS IN CINEMAS ACROSS KENYA, TANZANIA, UGANDA & RWANDA FROM 30 OCTOBER 2026 

'CALL ME QUEEN' MADE ITS KENYAN PREMIERE AT NBO FILM FESTIVAL AHEAD OF EAST AFRICAN RELEASE FROM 30 OCTOBER 2026 

New international Kenyan film Call Me Queen is set to premiere in Kenya on 17 October 2026 at the NBO Film Festival (Prestige Ngong Road from 6 PM), with members of the film’s Kenyan and international cast and crew expected to attend the special premiere. The film will then launch in cinemas across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda from 30 October 2026. 

Tickets to the exclusive Africa red-carpet premiere are now available via YAKWETU at 2,500 KES which includes a welcome cocktail, exclusive screening, cast and crew Q&A and networking with filmmakers and industry guests.

Call Me Queen stars Eliane Umuhire (Rwandan-French), Denise Gough (Irish), Charlie Carrick (Canadian-British), Dominic West (British), Laurent Lafitte (French), Danny Sapani (British), alongside Kenya’s very own Michelle Tiren, Nice Githinji, Lwanda Jawar, Helen Keli, Peter Kawa and Eddie Kimani.

The film, directed by award-winning French-Iranian filmmaker Emily Atef, was filmed in Kenya with a largely local cast and production team. Inspired by true events, the screenplay, based on veteran foreign correspondent Lara Santoro’s novel ‘MERCY’, was written by Emily Atef, Hawa Essuman (Kenyan-Ghanaian author), Josune Hahnheiser (German filmmaker) and Jeannine Dominy (British writer).

Call Me Queen is set in Nairobi in 1999, against the backdrop of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The story follows Queen Achungo (Eliane Umuhire), a fiercely determined Rwandan refugee and single mother living in Korogocho slum and Anna (Denise Gough), an Irish / Italian international journalist newly arrived in Kenya and living in an affluent Nairobi suburb. 
<img src="https://expression.africa/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/CALL-ME-QUEEN-END-CARD-1024x531.jpg"/>

What begins as an unlikely employer–employee relationship develops into an extraordinary friendship between two women from different worlds. Ultimately, they join forces to fight against one of the greatest injustices of that era: unequal access to life-saving HIV medication. As their worlds collide, their encounter exposes the stark inequalities that shape access to healthcare, whose voices are heard and whose lives are valued, while confronting wider questions of race, global trade and political responsibility – issues whose consequences continue to resonate more than two decades later.

At the heart of the film is Queen, a woman whose strength, humour, intelligence and fearlessness have carried her through extraordinary hardship. Desperate to find work and provide for her children, she approaches Anna and becomes her housekeeper. What neither woman expects is how their lives will become intertwined. As their friendship develops, Queen opens Anna’s eyes to a reality far removed from her privileged life. Their very different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives repeatedly challenge their relationship, but also create a space in which both women begin to see the world and themselves differently.

When Queen discovers that she is HIV-positive, her personal fight for survival becomes a much larger struggle. At a time when life-saving HIV medication existed but remained inaccessible to millions because of its cost, Queen refused to accept that poverty, political inaction, pharmaceutical patents or geography should determine who gets to live.

Director Emily Atef says, “Queen is the undisputed heroine of the film, a woman whose resilience and natural leadership emerge as her personal struggle grows into a fight for her community. Her strength, humour and fearlessness and innate intelligence is what makes her a born leader. Queen and the people around her take control of their own struggle and fight for change on their own terms.” For the director, this perspective is central to the film, which uses the friendship between Queen and Anna to explore how two women from very different cultural, economic and social circumstances can challenge, influence and ultimately meet one another as equals.

The 17 October 2026 premiere at the NBO Film Festival will mark Call Me Queen’s official Kenyan launch, ahead of its theatrical release across Kenya and East Africa from 30 October 2026. The film has already earned selections at leading international festivals, including the Hamburg Film Festival in Germany. 

Call Me Queen offers a riveting look back at a defining period in the country’s history while asking urgent questions about equality, dignity and access to life, questions that remain relevant today. Join in a powerful Kenyan story reaching audiences both at home and around the world.

Distributed by Crimson Multimedia and YAKWETU™, their joint CEO, Trushna Buddhdev-Patel, says, “We’re excited to bring this riveting film to cinemas across East Africa from 30th October; followed by online via YAKWETU™ We are also inviting Partnerships for Impact Screenings on the critical Issues raised of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Detection & Treatment (amidst its current Resurgence); Equal Access to Healthcare, Information & Medicine for all Diseases; Women Empowerment & Activism for Social Justice; and the Importance of Community and Friendship.”

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OskfiRobvos" title="Call Me Queen - In Cinemas Oct 30 - East Africa" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Editor’s notes:

Call Me Queen is an international production by Ringel Film, Les Films Pelléas, Cowboy Films and Streetcar Productions, in co-production with Zischlermann Filmproduktion, Construction Film and Ascent Films. The film’s creative team includes acclaimed cinematographer Hélène Louvart and editor Anne Fabini. Director Emily Atef’s previous films include ‘3 Days in Quiberon’ and ‘More Than Ever’, with her work receiving recognition at major international film festivals including Cannes and the Berlinale. With CALL ME QUEEN, she brings an international filmmaking perspective to a story firmly rooted in Nairobi, combining an intimate story of friendship with a wider examination of power, inequality and self-determination.

In Memory of Appie Matere – a visionary Kenyan film and TV Producer whose lasting contribution to the industry continues to be felt. Before her passing, she collaborated with Ascent Films as a Producer on Call Me Queen.

Tickets to the exclusive Africa premiere, here: https://web.yakwetu.africa/view/116808fcbe1991a8

 About Call Me Queen’s distributor in East Africa 

Crimson Multimedia Limited is a leading film distribution company championing theatrical cinema across East and West Africa. With a strong focus on bringing the world’s most compelling films to African audiences, Crimson represents a prestigious portfolio of international studios and production houses, including Walt Disney, Warner Bros., AA Films, Zee Films, Marudhar, Dharma Productions and Moviegoers. Beyond international cinema, Crimson Multimedia has played a pivotal role in the growth and visibility of African filmmaking, supporting the theatrical distribution and successful cinema runs of acclaimed Kenyan productions, including Nairobi Half Life, Rafiki, Softie, Supa Modo and Kati Kati, amongst others. With a deep understanding of African audiences, cinema networks and the evolving theatrical landscape, Crimson Multimedia bridges international studios and local filmmakers with audiences across the continent. The company continues to champion theatrical storytelling, local filmmaking and the power of cinema to connect audiences across Africa and the world.

 About Call Me Queen’s retailer in East Africa 

Retailer of Digital Content from Africa, YAKWETU™ – meaning both “Of Us” and “For Us” in Kiswahili – is a Kenya-based Entertainment & Edutainment Platform that protects & monetises encrypted Movies, Television Programmes, Music Videos, Podcasts, AudioBooks and Games from Africa, to Africa and for Africa. First-ever Winner from Africa, and from the Global Creative Industry, of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Awards in 2023 for their Innovation, YAKWETU™ has developed groundbreaking Applications to reform illegal Movie Shops (YAKWETU™ Plug & Play) and informal Cinemas (YAKWETU™ Sinema), throughout the Global South. And for their Android Mobile and TV Apps, YAKWETU™ (formerly MyMovies.Africa™) was named 3rd (Bronze) most popular Streaming & Distribution Platform in Kenya, at Click Awards, after Skiza by Safaricom (Silver) and Netflix (Gold), on 14th May 2026.




Source: https://expression.africa/call-me-queen-comes-home-to-kenya-for-nbo-film-festival/

Call Me Queen comes home to Kenya for NBO Film Festival

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OskfiRobvos" target="blank"> WATCH TRAILER </a>

DOWNLOAD <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NN8dpqAkADT9KlnAO5jAEjmNAGKOD5v6" target="blank"> FILM POSTERS </a> | <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AVeJ-3Ngvl78J7JZQuxfibhWbvQMrKTa" target="blank"> ACTORS PRESS PICS </a> | <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1sibPpP22x8gvwStjYjdIPfhqbp1KYr_b" target="blank"> FILM STILLS </a>| <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1H2J2cZPxY7ef1Newa8WreHPGw2Erxa-K" target="blank"> IMAGES FROM PRIVATE SCREENING AT UNSEEN (13 OCT) </a>



New international Kenyan film CALL ME QUEEN is set to premiere in Kenya on 17 October 2026 at the NBO Film Festival (Prestige Ngong Road from 6 PM), with members of the film's Kenyan and international cast and crew expected to attend the special premiere. The film will then launch in cinemas across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda from 30 October 2026. Tickets to the exclusive Africa red-carpet premiere are now available via <a href="https://info-anyikopr.nmailroute.net/x/d?c=53369849&l=d2634d2d-f2d8-4564-8573-3f33869bf219&r=45c1cebc-c256-4b2a-9076-4188d0bbc981" target="blank">YAKWETU </a> at 2,500 KES which includes a welcome cocktail, exclusive screening, cast and crew Q&A and networking with filmmakers and industry guests.

CALL ME QUEEN stars Eliane Umuhire (Rwandan-French), Denise Gough (Irish), Charlie Carrick (Canadian-British), Dominic West (British), Laurent Lafitte (French), Danny Sapani (British), alongside Kenya's very own Michelle Tiren, Nice Githinji, Lwanda Jawar, Helen Keli, Peter Kawa and Eddie Kimani.

The film, directed by award-winning French-Iranian filmmaker Emily Atef, was filmed in Kenya with a largely local cast and production team. Inspired by true events, the screenplay, based on veteran foreign correspondent Lara Santoro's novel 'MERCY', was written by Emily Atef, Hawa Essuman (Kenyan-Ghanaian author), Josune Hahnheiser (German filmmaker) and Jeannine Dominy (British writer).

CALL ME QUEEN is set in Nairobi in 1999, against the backdrop of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The story follows Queen Achungo (Eliane Umuhire), a fiercely determined Rwandan refugee and single mother living in Korogocho slum and Anna (Denise Gough), an Irish / Italian international journalist newly arrived in Kenya and living in an affluent Nairobi suburb. 

What begins as an unlikely employer–employee relationship develops into an extraordinary friendship between two women from different worlds. Ultimately, they join forces to fight against one of the greatest injustices of that era: unequal access to life-saving HIV medication. As their worlds collide, their encounter exposes the stark inequalities that shape access to healthcare, whose voices are heard and whose lives are valued, while confronting wider questions of race, global trade and political responsibility – issues whose consequences continue to resonate more than two decades later.

At the heart of the film is Queen, a woman whose strength, humour, intelligence and fearlessness have carried her through extraordinary hardship. Desperate to find work and provide for her children, she approaches Anna and becomes her housekeeper. What neither woman expects is how their lives will become intertwined. As their friendship develops, Queen opens Anna's eyes to a reality far removed from her privileged life. Their very different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives repeatedly challenge their relationship, but also create a space in which both women begin to see the world and themselves differently.

When Queen discovers that she is HIV-positive, her personal fight for survival becomes a much larger struggle. At a time when life-saving HIV medication existed but remained inaccessible to millions because of its cost, Queen refused to accept that poverty, political inaction, pharmaceutical patents or geography should determine who gets to live.

Director Emily Atef says, "Queen is the undisputed heroine of the film, a woman whose resilience and natural leadership emerge as her personal struggle grows into a fight for her community. Her strength, humour and fearlessness and innate intelligence is what makes her a born leader. Queen and the people around her take control of their own struggle and fight for change on their own terms." For the director, this perspective is central to the film, which uses the friendship between Queen and Anna to explore how two women from very different cultural, economic and social circumstances can challenge, influence and ultimately meet one another as equals.

 

The 17 October 2026 premiere at the NBO Film Festival will mark CALL ME QUEEN's official Kenyan launch, ahead of its theatrical release across Kenya and East Africa from 30 October 2026. The film has already earned selections at leading international festivals, including the Hamburg Film Festival in Germany. 

CALL ME QUEEN offers a riveting look back at a defining period in the country's history while asking urgent questions about equality, dignity and access to life, questions that remain relevant today. Join in a powerful Kenyan story reaching audiences both at home and around the world.

Distributed by Crimson Multimedia and YAKWETU™, their joint CEO, Trushna Buddhdev-Patel, says, "We're excited to bring this riveting film to cinemas across East Africa from 30th October; followed by online via <a href="https://info-anyikopr.nmailroute.net/x/d?c=53369849&l=6f97a309-c597-4768-99a7-6d2ea4c9f674&r=45c1cebc-c256-4b2a-9076-4188d0bbc981" target="blank"> YAKWETU™ </a> We are also inviting Partnerships for Impact Screenings on the critical Issues raised of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Detection & Treatment (amidst its current Resurgence); Equal Access to Healthcare, Information & Medicine for all Diseases; Women Empowerment & Activism for Social Justice; and the Importance of Community and Friendship."


 EDITOR'S NOTES: 

CALL ME QUEEN is an international production by Ringel Film, Les Films Pelléas, Cowboy Films and Streetcar Productions, in co-production with Zischlermann Filmproduktion, Construction Film and Ascent Films. The film's creative team includes acclaimed cinematographer Hélène Louvart and editor Anne Fabini. Director Emily Atef's previous films include '3 Days in Quiberon' and 'More Than Ever', with her work receiving recognition at major international film festivals including Cannes and the Berlinale. With CALL ME QUEEN, she brings an international filmmaking perspective to a story firmly rooted in Nairobi, combining an intimate story of friendship with a wider examination of power, inequality and self-determination.

In Memory of Appie Matere - a visionary Kenyan film and TV Producer whose lasting contribution to the industry continues to be felt. Before her passing, she collaborated with Ascent Films as a Producer on CALL ME QUEEN.

Tickets to the exclusive Africa premiere, here: https://web.yakwetu.africa/view/116808fcbe1991a8

For media enquiries & interviews, contact us via press@anyiko-pr.com | 254721368983


 ABOUT CALL ME QUEEN'S DISTRIBUTOR IN EAST AFRICA 

Crimson Multimedia Limited is a leading film distribution company championing theatrical cinema across East and West Africa. With a strong focus on bringing the world's most compelling films to African audiences, Crimson represents a prestigious portfolio of international studios and production houses, including Walt Disney, Warner Bros., AA Films, Zee Films, Marudhar, Dharma Productions and Moviegoers. Beyond international cinema, Crimson Multimedia has played a pivotal role in the growth and visibility of African filmmaking, supporting the theatrical distribution and successful cinema runs of acclaimed Kenyan productions, including Nairobi Half Life, Rafiki, Softie, Supa Modo and Kati Kati, amongst others. With a deep understanding of African audiences, cinema networks and the evolving theatrical landscape, Crimson Multimedia bridges international studios and local filmmakers with audiences across the continent. The company continues to champion theatrical storytelling, local filmmaking and the power of cinema to connect audiences across Africa and the world.

 ABOUT CALL ME QUEEN'S RETAILER IN EAST AFRICA 

Retailer of Digital Content from Africa, YAKWETU™ – meaning both "Of Us" and "For Us" in Kiswahili – is a Kenya-based Entertainment & Edutainment Platform that protects & monetises encrypted Movies, Television Programmes, Music Videos, Podcasts, AudioBooks and Games from Africa, to Africa and for Africa. First-ever Winner from Africa, and from the Global Creative Industry, of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Awards in 2023 for their Innovation, YAKWETU™ has developed groundbreaking Applications to reform illegal Movie Shops (YAKWETU™ Plug & Play) and informal Cinemas (YAKWETU™ Sinema), throughout the Global South. And for their Android Mobile and TV Apps, YAKWETU™ (formerly MyMovies.Africa™) was named 3rd (Bronze) most popular Streaming & Distribution Platform in Kenya, at Click Awards, after Skiza by Safaricom (Silver) and Netflix (Gold), on 14th May 2026.

INTERNATIONAL KENYAN FILM 'CALL ME QUEEN' TO PREMIERE IN KENYA ON 17 OCT, BEFORE HITTING CINEMAS ACROSS EAST AFRICA ON 30 OCT

'CALL ME QUEEN' COMES HOME TO KENYA FOR NBO FILM FESTIVAL THIS OCT (17TH)


 What you need to know:

    Emily Atef’s Kenyan-set drama Call Me Queen returns home for its October Nairobi premiere before opening across East African cinemas, exploring friendship, HIV inequality and the fight for access to life-saving treatment.



Call Me Queen brings Nairobi’s HIV struggle to the big screen

For those who would like to watch it at home, 'Call Me Queen' will begin streaming in Kenya on November 13 on Yakwetu.

After making its Kenyan debut at the Prestige Cinema on Ngong Road during the NBO Film Festival, ‘Call Me Queen’ is set to begin its theatrical release across East Africa on October 30, with a streaming release hosted by Yakwetu on November 13.

In attendance for the film’s red carpet premiere were German producer Gian Piero Ringel, director Emily Atef and lead Rwandan-French actress Eliane Umuhire, alongside Kenyan actors: Nice Githinji, Helen Keli, Peter Kawa, Michelle Tiren and Lwanda Jawar Kotengo.

Directed by award-winning German-born French-Iranian filmmaker Emily Atef, ‘Call Me Queen’ is considered a Kenyan set international film that revolves around the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

It stars Eliane Umuhire as Queen Achungo, alongside Irish actress Denise Gough, with Charlie Carrick, Dominic West, Laurent Lafitte and Danny Sapani. The Kenyan cast includes Michelle Tiren, Nice Githinji, Lwanda Jawar, Helen Keli, Peter Kawa and Eddie Kimani.

<figure>
<img src="https://www.kbc.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Director-Emily-Atef-speaking-during-the-QA-session-1024x682.jpg"/> 
<figcaption>Director Emily Atef speaking during the Q&A session with cast and crew. </figcaption>
</figure>

 Synopsis 


Set in Nairobi during the 1990s, against the backdrop of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the film follows Queen, a Rwandan refugee and single mother living in Korogocho, whose determination to provide for her children leads her to become a housekeeper for Anna, an international journalist living in an affluent Nairobi suburb. What begins as an employer–employee relationship develops into an unexpected friendship between two women from vastly different worlds, challenging their perspectives on privilege, inequality and the value of human life. When Queen discovers she is HIV-positive, her personal struggle becomes part of a wider fight for access to life-saving medication, at a time when treatment remains beyond the reach of millions. As Queen and Anna confront the inequalities shaping access to healthcare, the film examines the intersection of poverty, pharmaceutical patents, race and political responsibility, while highlighting the resilience of individuals and communities determined to fight for change.


Speaking about the film, director Emily Atef describes Queen as the story’s most pivotal character.

“(Queen) is the undisputed heroine of the film. A woman whose resilience and natural leadership emerge as her personal struggle grows into a fight for her community,” she said. “Her strength, humour, fearlessness and innate intelligence are what make her a born leader. Queen and the people around her take control of their own struggle, and fight for change on their own terms.”

Inspired by true events, the screenplay is based on veteran foreign correspondent Lara Santoro’s novel ‘Mercy’.

It was written by Atef, alongside Kenyan-Ghanaian screenwriter Hawa Essuman, German filmmaker Josune Hahnheiser and British writer Jeannine Dominy.

The production brings together international filmmaking talent and a largely female Kenyan cast and crew, placing local experiences at the centre of a story with global relevance.

The film also features a dedication to Appie Matere, a visionary Kenyan film and television producer, who collaborated with Ascent Films as a producer on the project before her passing.

<figure>
<img src="https://www.kbc.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Guest-watching-Call-Me-Queen-1024x682.jpg"/> <figcaption>Audience watching ‘Call Me Queen’ </figcaption>
</figure>

Speaking about the film’s release across cinemas in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda, Trushna Buddhdev-Patel, Managing Director of Crimson Multimedia and Co-Founder of Yakwetu, said the film deserved to be watched at home.

“This film deserves to be watched widely; we have therefore pushed for a release across East Africa’s cinemas, and also online via Yakwetu where cinemas cannot reach the audience,” she said.

The film is an international production by Ringel Film, Les Films Pelléas, Cowboy Films and Streetcar Productions, in co-production with Zischlermann Filmproduktion, Construction Film and Ascent Films.


Source: https://www.kbc.co.ke/call-me-queen-to-begin-theatrical-run-on-october-30-following-film-festival-debut/


Watch on YAKWETU here: https://www.yakwetu.africa/view/116808fcbe1991a8-call-me-queen

‘Call Me Queen’ to begin theatrical run on October 30 following film festival debut

Call Me Queen, an international feature shot in Kenya with a largely local cast and crew, will hold its African red-carpet premiere on 17 October 2026 at the NBO Film Festival in Nairobi, according to distributor announcements by Crimson Multimedia and YAKWETU carried by KBC and Expression Africa. The film will then open in cinemas across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda from 30 October 2026.

Premiere and release plan

The premiere is scheduled at Prestige Ngong Road from 6pm, with tickets priced at KSh 2,500 through YAKWETU and including a welcome cocktail, the exclusive screening, a cast and crew question-and-answer session and networking with filmmakers and industry guests. Distribution afterwards moves to theatrical release across the four East African markets, followed by an online window via YAKWETU, the distributors said.

The premiere falls inside the NBO Film Festival's seventh edition, which runs from 15 to 25 October 2026 across four Nairobi venues, including Prestige Plaza, under the theme "Cinema for Us", according to the FestivalIndex event record. The festival programme also includes three juried competitions and the first retrospective of Senegalese filmmaker Alain Gomis.

 17 October 2026: African red-carpet premiere at the NBO Film Festival, Prestige Ngong Road from 6pm
 
 15 to 25 October 2026: NBO Film Festival seventh edition across four Nairobi venues
 
 30 October 2026: theatrical release in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda

Cast and creative team

The film stars Eliane Umuhire, Denise Gough, Charlie Carrick, Dominic West, Laurent Lafitte and Danny Sapani, alongside Kenyan performers Michelle Tiren, Nice Githinji, Lwanda Jawar, Helen Keli, Peter Kawa and Eddie Kimani. It is directed by Emily Atef, whose earlier films include 3 Days in Quiberon and More Than Ever, with cinematography by Helene Louvart and editing by Anne Fabini.

The screenplay, by Atef, Hawa Essuman, Josune Hahnheiser and Jeannine Dominy, is based on veteran foreign correspondent Lara Santoro's novel Mercy, and the production is an international co-production by Ringel Film, Les Films Pelleas, Cowboy Films and Streetcar Productions with Zischlermann Filmproduktion, Construction Film and Ascent Films. The distributors note that the film was shot in Kenya with a largely local cast and production team.

Story and stakes

Set in Nairobi in 1999 against the backdrop of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the story follows Queen Achungo, a Rwandan refugee and single mother living in Korogocho, and Anna, an Irish and Italian journalist newly arrived in an affluent Nairobi suburb. When Queen becomes Anna's housekeeper, their friendship opens into a shared fight over unequal access to life-saving HIV medication, a conflict the synopsis ties to pharmaceutical patents, poverty and political inaction.

 Queen is the undisputed heroine of the film, a woman whose resilience and natural leadership emerge as her personal struggle grows into a fight for her community.

Atef's quote, published in the distributors' notes, frames Queen's arc as self-determination rather than rescue, and the film uses the two women's unequal starting points to examine race, global trade and political responsibility.

Why the release matters for Kenyan cinema

The release places a Kenyan-shot international co-production in front of local audiences first, a sequence that is not automatic for foreign-financed films set in the country. Crimson Multimedia, the East African distributor, previously handled theatrical runs for Kenyan titles including Nairobi Half Life, Rafiki, Softie, Supa Modo and Kati Kati, which gives the release an experienced local pipeline.

The distributors are also inviting partnerships for impact screenings on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment access, equal access to healthcare, and women's empowerment, according to joint chief executive Trushna Buddhdev-Patel. The credits carry a dedication to Appie Matere, a Kenyan film and television producer who worked on the film with Ascent Films before her death.

Limits of what is confirmed

The premiere and release dates are announced plans by the rights holders, not box-office or attendance outcomes, and the festival listing confirms the festival window and venues rather than the premiere's slot within it. The film has already earned selections at international festivals, including the Hamburg Film Festival, per the distributors' notes.

For Kenyan audiences the practical facts are settled: a ticketed Nairobi premiere on 17 October, a four-country cinema release from 30 October, and a local cast and crew whose work returns home before the film travels further.



Source: https://streamlinefeed.co.ke/news/call-me-queen-to-premiere-at-nbo-film-festival

Kenya-set drama Call Me Queen will hold its African red-carpet premiere on 17 October at the NBO Film Festival before an East African cinema release.

Call Me Queen to premiere at NBO Film Festival

New international Kenyan film CALL ME QUEEN is set to premiere in Kenya on 17 October 2026 at the NBO Film Festival (Prestige Ngong Road from 6 PM), with members of the film’s Kenyan and international cast and crew expected to attend the special premiere. The film will then launch in cinemas across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda from 30 October 2026. Tickets to the exclusive Africa red-carpet premiere are now available via YAKWETU at 2,500 KES which includes a welcome cocktail, exclusive screening, cast and crew Q&A and networking with filmmakers and industry guests.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OskfiRobvos" target="blank">WATCH TRAILER </a>

CALL ME QUEEN stars Eliane Umuhire (Rwandan-French), Denise Gough (Irish), Charlie Carrick (Canadian-British), Dominic West (British), Laurent Lafitte (French), Danny Sapani (British), alongside Kenya’s very own Michelle Tiren, Nice Githinji, Lwanda Jawar, Helen Keli, Peter Kawa and Eddie Kimani.

<img src="https://capitalfm.africa/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/image-77-1024x703.png"/>

The film, directed by award-winning French-Iranian filmmaker Emily Atef, was filmed in Kenya with a largely local cast and production team. Inspired by true events, the screenplay, based on veteran foreign correspondent Lara Santoro’s novel ‘MERCY’, was written by Emily Atef, Hawa Essuman (Kenyan-Ghanaian author), Josune Hahnheiser (German filmmaker) and Jeannine Dominy (British writer).

<img src="https://capitalfm.africa/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/image-78-1024x703.png"/>

CALL ME QUEEN is set in Nairobi in 1999, against the backdrop of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The story follows Queen Achungo (Eliane Umuhire), a fiercely determined Rwandan refugee and single mother living in Korogocho slum and Anna (Denise Gough), an Irish / Italian international journalist newly arrived in Kenya and living in an affluent Nairobi suburb. 

What begins as an unlikely employer–employee relationship develops into an extraordinary friendship between two women from different worlds. Ultimately, they join forces to fight against one of the greatest injustices of that era: unequal access to life-saving HIV medication. As their worlds collide, their encounter exposes the stark inequalities that shape access to healthcare, whose voices are heard and whose lives are valued, while confronting wider questions of race, global trade and political responsibility – issues whose consequences continue to resonate more than two decades later.

At the heart of the film is Queen, a woman whose strength, humour, intelligence and fearlessness have carried her through extraordinary hardship. Desperate to find work and provide for her children, she approaches Anna and becomes her housekeeper. What neither woman expects is how their lives will become intertwined. As their friendship develops, Queen opens Anna’s eyes to a reality far removed from her privileged life. Their very different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives repeatedly challenge their relationship, but also create a space in which both women begin to see the world and themselves differently.

When Queen discovers that she is HIV-positive, her personal fight for survival becomes a much larger struggle. At a time when life-saving HIV medication existed but remained inaccessible to millions because of its cost, Queen refused to accept that poverty, political inaction, pharmaceutical patents or geography should determine who gets to live.

Director Emily Atef says, “Queen is the undisputed heroine of the film, a woman whose resilience and natural leadership emerge as her personal struggle grows into a fight for her community. Her strength, humour and fearlessness and innate intelligence is what makes her a born leader. Queen and the people around her take control of their own struggle and fight for change on their own terms.” For the director, this perspective is central to the film, which uses the friendship between Queen and Anna to explore how two women from very different cultural, economic and social circumstances can challenge, influence and ultimately meet one another as equals.

The17 October 2026 premiere at the NBO Film Festival will mark CALL ME QUEEN’s official Kenyan launch, ahead of its theatrical release across Kenya and East Africa from 30 October 2026. The film has already earned selections at leading international festivals, including the Hamburg Film Festival in Germany. 

CALL ME QUEEN offers a riveting look back at a defining period in the country’s history while asking urgent questions about equality, dignity and access to life, questions that remain relevant today. Join in a powerful Kenyan story reaching audiences both at home and around the world.

Distributed by Crimson Multimedia and YAKWETU™, their joint CEO, Trushna Buddhdev-Patel, says, “We’re excited to bring this riveting film to cinemas across East Africa from 30th October; followed by online via YAKWETU™ We are also inviting Partnerships for Impact Screenings on the critical Issues raised of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Detection & Treatment (amidst its current Resurgence); Equal Access to Healthcare, Information & Medicine for all Diseases; Women Empowerment & Activism for Social Justice; and the Importance of Community and Friendship.”

Source: https://capitalfm.africa/international-kenyan-film-call-me-queen-to-premiere-in-kenya-on-october-17/

International Kenyan Film ‘Call Me Queen’ To Premiere In Kenya On October 17

I don’t know what I was expecting when I walked into that cinema. It definitely wasn’t a sad story. And it definitely wasn’t a story of liberation.

The title Call Me Queen screams drama. Maybe even a little glamour. Political courage, HIV and AIDS, access to life-saving medication… none of that was what I expected.

<img src="https://news.sanaapost.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot_20260916_083906_Instagram.jpg"/> 

And then she said, “You can call me Queen.” It all made sense. Her name isn’t even Queen. She named herself. She woke up one day and decided she was a queen. And that is probably what stayed with me most.

Call Me Queen tells a story around HIV and AIDS activism, access to medication and the people who fought for something many of us now take for granted. It is emotional but ultimately a story about people refusing to accept the circumstances handed to them.

<img src="https://news.sanaapost.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot_20260916_083927_Instagram-760x412.jpg"/> 

Visually, I really enjoyed the film. The set design and production design stood out to me, It painted a picture of what 1999 was, not that I existed or anything, lol. The casting also worked for me. There were performances that made the story feel human, particularly when Queen was struggling with her health.

But this is where my filmmaker brain started getting restless. The biggest weakness for me was the storytelling.

There were moments when I wanted the film to show me, rather than tell me. A lot of information, history and context is delivered through dialogue or data when some of it could have been allowed to unfold organically through the characters and their experiences.

And then there was the elephant in the room for me, the white savior narrative.

I struggle with watching a Kenyan story about a deeply African experience being filtered, in significant ways, through a white man’s perspective. Not because white people cannot participate in African stories, but because it raises a bigger question. Why are we still so comfortable telling our stories through someone else’s lens? Especially when the story is about African lives, African struggles and African people fighting for something that directly affects them.

That tension stayed with me long after the credits. And perhaps that’s also why I think Call Me Queen is worth watching. Not because it is flawless. It isn’t. But because it gives us something to discuss.

<img src="https://news.sanaapost.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot_20260916_084049_Instagram-760x378.jpg"/>


It made me think about HIV and AIDS beyond the statistics. It made me think about access to medication, about activism, about who gets remembered, and ultimately, about who gets to tell our stories.

And yes… Rwanda Gold. Shhh…..I’m not telling you what happens. Go watch it. Then let’s have the conversation. 

Source: https://news.sanaapost.com/is-she-a-queen-or-is-it-just-a-name/

Is She a Queen or Is It Just a Name?

<figcaption>Red carpet, bold fashion and women taking up space. A moment for the ladies behind 'Call Me Queen' and the stories that deserve to be seen, heard and celebrated. PHOTO | Ooro George for Business Today</figcaption>

The Nairobi Film Festival has expanded its screening footprint and programme for its 2026 edition, putting the spotlight on a central question for African cinema: how to turn growing international interest in the continent’s films into a sustainable audience at home.

The festival, running from October 15 to 25, opened at Prestige Cinema with the African premiere of Ben’Imana, a Rwandan drama examining the long-term consequences of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. The production, directed and co-written by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo and Delphine Agut, is a multinational co-production involving Rwanda, Gabon, France, Norway and Côte d’Ivoire.

The 2026 programme features about 50 films across three Nairobi venues: Prestige Cinema, Unseen Nairobi and Alliance Française. The expanded selection gives audiences access to a broader range of African and international productions, while positioning the festival as a meeting point for filmmakers, distributors and audiences.


<img src="https://businesstoday.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1792573648478.jpg"/>
<figcaption>A story of resilience, unlikely alliances and the fight for life-saving HIV medication. ‘Call Me Queen’, directed by Emily Atef, takes us back to 1990s Nairobi, where a Rwandan single mother and an Irish journalist join forces against pharmaceutical giants withholding life-saving medication from the slums.
Some stories entertain. Others challenge us to remember. </figcaption>


For Kenya’s film industry, the opportunity extends beyond the visibility offered by a premiere. Festivals can provide a platform for independent productions to find viewers, build professional relationships and explore routes to distribution in markets where theatrical access remains a challenge.


Yet audience development remains a critical consideration. International recognition does not automatically translate into strong domestic demand, while the economics of independent filmmaking depend on access to financing, distribution networks and viewers willing to pay for locally produced content.

A showcase for African storytelling 

The opening selection, Ben’Imana, places historical memory, community justice and reconciliation at the centre of the festival’s programme. The film follows Vénéranda, played by Clémentine U. Nyirinkindi, a genocide survivor who becomes involved in community-led justice and reconciliation initiatives years after the violence.

Its visual approach, use of local languages and attention to everyday life in Rwanda illustrate the creative possibilities of stories rooted in specific African experiences. The production also reflects the cross-border financing and collaboration that can bring regional stories to wider audiences.

But the film’s premiere also raises a broader question about the kinds of African narratives that gain international recognition. Stories of conflict, trauma and historical injustice remain important, but the continent’s creative industries encompass a much wider range of genres, from comedy and animation to speculative fiction and popular entertainment.

<img src="https://businesstoday.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1792573496581.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
Beyond survival lies the difficult work of rebuilding trust, restoring dignity and imagining a shared future. ‘Ben’Imana’, directed by Marie Clémentine Dusebajambo, explores post-genocide Rwanda through the story of a survivor who leads dialogue between victims and the families of perpetrators, helping communities confront the past and begin to heal.
A powerful reminder that reconciliation is not about forgetting history, but finding a way forward.
</figcaption>


For producers and investors, the diversity of these stories matters. A broader mix of genres can help filmmakers reach audiences with different tastes, potentially widening the market beyond viewers already drawn to festival cinema.

The challenge is not to abandon socially conscious filmmaking, but to create room for a wider range of commercial and artistic possibilities.

 Kenya’s films in the spotlight 
The festival’s Kenyan selections offer another measure of the industry’s ambitions. One Woman, One Bra, directed by Vincho Nchogu, is among the featured titles and has been selected as Kenya’s official submission for the 2027 Academy Awards international feature film category.

Other Kenyan productions include Kikuyu Land, Cards On The Table and Kamirithu Afterlives, alongside short-film programmes that showcase emerging and established filmmakers.

The mix of feature films, shorts and international productions gives the festival an opportunity to connect local filmmaking with wider creative networks. Industry initiatives associated with the programme, including Afropean Cinema, also seek to connect African diaspora filmmakers and European curators with Kenyan audiences and film professionals through screenings, workshops and discussions on subjects such as independent production, artificial intelligence and access to global markets.


<img src="https://businesstoday.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1792573603049.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
When love, old wounds and unfinished business collide, the stakes are anything but ordinary. ‘Cards on the Table’, directed by Victor Gatonye, takes audiences to Nairobi on Christmas Eve in 1992, where an estranged couple reunites for a high-stakes holiday heist. But with unresolved baggage threatening to derail their plans, the job takes a turn neither anticipated.
A Nairobi-set crime story where the past refuses to stay in the past. 
</figcaption>


Such exchanges can help filmmakers develop projects and professional relationships, although their long-term commercial value will depend on whether those connections translate into financing, distribution agreements and repeat audiences.

The festival’s expansion alone does not establish the scale of demand for Kenyan films. Organisers have not publicly disclosed attendance projections, ticket revenue or sponsorship figures in the available coverage, leaving the event’s commercial performance difficult to assess.

 Beyond the festival circuit 

The Nairobi Film Festival arrives at a moment when the future of African cinema depends not only on the ability to produce compelling films, but also on building the infrastructure that allows them to circulate.


<img src="https://businesstoday.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1fDkGX6M0pdEwv2CavOmX66JM8YaCV-metaVW50aXRsZWQgZGVzaWduLmpwZw-1.jpg"/>

<figcaption>
The NBO Film Festival celebrates the filmmakers, storytellers and bold creative voices shaping the narratives we see on screen. From homegrown productions to stories that challenge perspectives, African cinema deserves the spotlight.
</figcaption>


Screening platforms can introduce filmmakers to audiences and industry partners, but sustainable growth requires more: reliable distribution, accessible screening venues, financing for future productions and marketing that extends beyond festival audiences.

For Nairobi, the festival offers a concentrated opportunity to bring international cinema into conversation with local creative ambitions. Whether that visibility translates into lasting gains for the industry will depend on what happens after the final screening.

The programme runs through October 25, giving audiences and film professionals the remaining days of the festival to engage with productions from Kenya and beyond.






Source: https://businesstoday.co.ke/nairobi-film-festival-2026-bets-on-african-stories-to-grow-cinemas-local-audience/


Watch on YAKWETU here: https://www.yakwetu.africa/view/116808fcbe1991a8-call-me-queen

The 2026 edition brings about 50 films to Nairobi as the industry navigates questions of financing, distribution and the commercial appeal of African storytelling.

Showing posts from call-me-queen tag