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Mark Dinn



The 2026 NBO Film Festival has opened its doors to its seventh edition, staging 10 days of African and international cinema, filmmaker conversations and industry engagements across the city until 25 October, 2026. Tickets are now available on mookh

The opening night held last week (15 October 2026) at Prestige Cinema, Nairobi showcased the acclaimed Rwandan drama Ben’Imana, that brought together the film’s cast including Rwandese actors: Clémentine U. Nyirinkindi, Mugabo Adelithe and Kelly Nishimwe Kezia, alongside filmmakers, actors, industry professionals, media and cinema lovers. The screening was a special moment for the cast, who watched the film together for the very first time during its debut Africa premiere. The screening officially opened the festival, marking the start of 10 days of film and celebrating the diversity of stories from across the continent. 

<img src="https://capitalfm.africa/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/image-121.png"/>


The international Kenyan film Call Me Queen (Kenya/Germany) also premiered at the festival as a Special Presentation (17 October 2026) ahead of its East African release across theatres from 30 October 2026.

<img src="https://capitalfm.africa/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/image-122.png"/>

Under the theme Cinema for Us, the festival is this year bringing cinema to three different venues: Prestige Plaza, Unseen Cinema and Alliance Française Nairobi through screenings, community programmes, City Dialogues and filmmaker conversations with its 2026 programme featuring 54 films — 33 features and 21 shorts.

<img src="https://capitalfm.africa/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/image-123.png"/>

Mbithi Masya, Artistic Director of NBO Film Festival, shared, “NBO Film Festival is a space where audiences can discover, celebrate and engage with the stories being made across Africa and beyond. This year like the rest, we want this festival to be part of Nairobi’s public life and a place where people come together to experience cinema, exchange ideas, recognise excellence and imagine what comes next. With our biggest programme yet and additional competitions, NBO 2026 is about building a deeper culture of cinema and making sure African audiences have a place in the conversation. That’s what Cinema for Us means.”


<img src="https://capitalfm.africa/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/image-124.png"/>

The Fiction programme will feature Carissa (South Africa), Rumba Royale (DRC), The Heart Is a Muscle (South Africa/Saudi Arabia), Death Has No Master (Venezuela/Canada/Italy/Luxembourg), If I Were Alive (Brazil) and Cards on the Table (Kenya). The Documentary programme will include And She Didn’t Die (South Africa/UK), Life After Siham (France/Egypt), Kamĩrĩĩthũ Afterlives (Kenya), Black Zombie (Canada) and True North (Canada). The Lunchbox selection will feature Vuta N’Kuvute (Tanzania), Camp de Thiaroye (Senegal/Algeria/Tunisia), My Father’s Shadow (UK/Nigeria), Crocodile (New Zealand/Nigeria) and Kati Kati (Kenya/Germany).

The Family programme will include Liyana (Eswatini/US), Stero (Kenya), Baada ya Masika (Kenya/Switzerland) and Vanille (France/Switzerland). The Shorts Block will bring together One Last Order (Kenya/US), Tracks (Kenya), 10 Toes Down (Kenya), Wa Kimani (Kenya), Mr Rogers (Nigeria), Totally Torie (US), Mwakenya (Kenya), An Open Field (Ethiopia/South Africa/France/Germany), Prayer (Portugal), Window Shot (Switzerland), AAHI (Ghana), The Invitation (South Africa), Misunderstanding (Kenya) and The Fortunate (Ethiopia).

NBO Film Festival will celebrate and recognise African cinema through three juried competitions, including the returning Fiction Feature Film Competition alongside two new competitive categories: the Nick Wambugu Prize for Documentary, awarded to the best documentary in competition, and the Short Film Fiction Competition, recognising excellence in short-form storytelling. The Fiction Feature jury is chaired by Judy Kibinge, the Documentary jury by Sam Soko, and the Short Film Fiction jury by Lydia Matata, with each joined by a panel of fellow filmmakers and industry professionals. 

The three competitions feature 15 films, including Ben’ Imana, Cotton Queen, Lady, One Woman, One Bra and Laundry (Fiction Feature); The Woman Who Poked the Leopard, My Father and Qaddafi, Kikuyu Land, Notes From the Underground and Crocodile (Documentary); and The Big Sad Nairobi, Goat, Souls of Fouta, God Sleeps on Sundays and The Break-in in (Short Film Fiction).

For the first time, NBO Film Festival will present a retrospective dedicated to acclaimed Senegalese filmmaker Alain Gomis, whose films have previously screened at the festival. Supported by EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture). The Alain Gomis Retrospective features Félicité, Rewind & Play, Tey, L’Afrance and Andalucia.

The 2026 edition of The NBO Film Festival will also strengthen its commitment to the future of African cinema through an expanded industry programme, which includes the NBO Project Showcase – the festival’s market platform where selected projects will be pitched to industry professionals, take part in one-on-one meetings with international buyers and festival scouts, and be eligible for the KES 250,000 NBO Development Grant. 

The NBO Film Festival has options designed for every kind of festival-goer. Single screening tickets start at KES 1,000, while Lunchbox screenings are KES 750 and Opening Night tickets are KES 1,500. Festival-goers can also opt for the Buddy Ticket at KES 4,000 for five tickets, the Box Set at KES 4,000 for five different films, or go all in with the Golden Ticket at KES 20,000, offering access to the full festival programme. Free community screenings are also available at Kaloleni Social Hall through RSVP.


Source: https://capitalfm.africa/nbo-film-festival-kicks-off-its-7th-edition-15-25-oct-2026/

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

 NBO Film Festival Kicks Off Its 7th Edition (15 – 25 Oct, 2026)


Anticipated Kenyan movie “Where The River Divides,” is ready to take audiences on a transformative journey that transcends boundaries and redefines the cinematic landscape.

Set against the mystical backdrop of the Thimlich Ohinga archaeological site in Migori, “Where The River Divides” is poised to make its grand debut and carve its mark in the hearts of viewers.

With the premiere scheduled at Anga Cinema, Diamond Plaza, the anticipation is building for this cinematic revelation.

The event is set to unfold on Tuesday, August 15th, at 2 PM, promising an unforgettable experience for all those in attendance.

At its core, Where The River Divides unravels a mesmerizing tale woven around the life of a young protagonist, intricately connected to the legacy of his esteemed clan leader father.

Upon returning to his village after a transformative baptism, the young man finds himself standing at a crossroads that holds the power to redefine his destiny. One path beckons him towards the hallowed duty of inheriting his father’s illustrious legacy – a path laden with traditions, responsibilities, and towering expectations. The other path introduces him to a new horizon, where the allure of Christianity tugs at his heartstrings, offering a fresh sense of purpose.

This internal conflict serves as the pulsating heartbeat of the movie, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in the protagonist’s profound struggle.

Yet, the film’s true essence lies in its ability to weave together the tapestry of shared human experiences, transcending barriers of language and faith. It resonates with the universal emotions and aspirations that bind us all, reaffirming the interconnectedness of humanity.

Director M.D. Neely delves into the film’s essence, remarking, “At its core, ‘Where the River Divides’ grapples with the concept of sacrifice. It compels us to examine what we are willing to relinquish in order to heed the call of destiny. Dennis’s journey, as portrayed in the film, has touched and inspired me deeply. Collaborating with an exceptional team of artists to bring this narrative to life has been an honor.”

Where The River Divides authenticity is reflected in its original filming in the evocative Dholuo, which has been meticulously dubbed into Kiswahili and English.

This careful translation ensures that the movie’s narrative resonates with a diverse global audience, fostering a sense of unity through understanding.

As the world gears up for the grand premiere, “Where The River Divides” is poised to make its digital debut as well.

The film will be available for streaming across a staggering 195 countries and territories, providing an exclusive online premiere through the Digital Cinema Extension – MyMovies.Africa™ platform. The virtual curtains will rise on this digital extravaganza at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, August 15th, 2023.

Trushna Buddhdev-Patel, the visionary co-founder, content director, and CEO of Yakwetu – the parent company of MyMoviesAfrica – expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “This film, rooted in Kenya’s rich history, fills us with immense pride.

The global distribution of ‘Where The River Divides’ resonates with its universal themes, and we are thrilled to showcase it on our very own Video On Demand service, MyMovies.Africa™.”

In a world brimming with distractions, “Where The River Divides” stands as a poignant reminder of the weight of our choices and the enduring impact of compassion. As the film embarks on its voyage across screens around the world, it beckons audiences to join in contemplation, inviting them to find a shared resonance in the face of life’s most monumental challenges.

Source: https://www.kenyanvibe.com/where-the-river-divides-kenyan-film-to-premier-at-anga-cinema/


Where The River Divides’: Kenyan Film To Premier At Anga Cinema



Medicine Man, is a vernacular movie shot in Embu County. PHOTO | POOL

Medicine Man, a vernacular movie shot in Embu County is set to screen worldwide on November 17, 2022. Medicine Man is the 120-minute thriller/drama story of how a lone doctor (Pish Kago) overcomes the odds to redeem the community he loves from the shackles of witchcraft and from the enslavement of a warlock’s (Sam Ukavi) power.

Made possible by the 2020 Kenya Film Commission Empowerment Programme, the multiple award-winning movie is set to screen, and be discussed, at the 5th monthly #WeWatchKenyan Party, at iHub Nairobi (6pm-10pm), and simulcast on Zoom (7pm-9:30pm) in 195 countries and territories worldwide.

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“We’re so thrilled to have received 13 nominations at the International Pan-African Film Festival (LIPFF) 2022, and to have won four! What’s more thrilling, however, is that our peers at the festival loved the film! We’re now looking forward to screening it in Nairobi, enroute to Nigeria,” said Betty Kathungu-Furet, the movie’s Executive Producer.

Medicine Man has also been selected for the 5th Kano Indigenous Languages of Africa Film Market and Festival (KILAF), and will take place from 22nd to 27th of November 2022, in the ancient Nigerian city of Kano.

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“We are very proud of the cast and crew of Medicine Man. Making a vernacular film for a national and international audience takes real conviction. And not only has Medicine Man won awards, but we recently licensed the film to Qatar Airways and Oman Air – proving that language isn’t a barrier, if you make a quality film with a compelling storyline, ”added Ms Trushna Buddhdev-Patel, the co-founder, content director and CEO of YAKWETU™.

The MyMovies.Africa™ Watch Party will also features an audience-interactive conversation with award-winning executive producer, Betty Kathungu-Furet, writer and producer Edijoe Mwaniki, director Simiyu Barasa as well as actors Pish Kago and Sammy Ukavi. MyMovies.Africa™ Watch Parties at iHub Nairobi are aimed at promoting local film and content, as well as building a community of Kenyan creatives who actually watch Kenyan content.

Medicine Man is the 120-minute thriller/drama story of how a lone doctor (Pish Kago) overcomes the odds to redeem the community he loves from the shackles of witchcraft and from the enslavement of a warlock’s (Sam Ukavi) power.

Showing posts from cinema tag

NBO Film Festival Kicks Off Its 7th Edition (15 – 25 Oct, 2026)

Where The River Divides’: Kenyan Film To Premier At Anga Cinema

Medicine Man: Embu movie to be screened worldwide in 195 countries