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Mark Dinn



Act of Love is a story about a young mother who is pushed on the edge by the daily struggles of life in Nairobi

In Summary:
<ul>
    <li>Baby Anna one of the main character cries from start to the end of the film </li>
    <li>Act of love, which premiered in Nairobi last week on Friday, has already received invitations to prestigious
    festivals </li>
</ul>

<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3t21YKeVFlQ3fZNLiqp7ThunE6uUogVQ20FGByf6rvBKJcdcVVTmdi1G-Xh6slbUOG5fjOyrZeyVUtvADT_jZci_EZW8qw584isQmt2G=s561"/>


A short film about a young mother's journey with postpartum depression continues to gain traction among film enthusiasts worldwide.

Act of love, which premiered in Nairobi last week on Friday, has already received invitations to prestigious festivals such as the Zanzibar International Film Festival in Tanzania and Swahili International Film Festival and Awards in Kenya.

This is in addition to Fragments Festival in the United Kingdom, and Hollywood African Cinema Connection Film Festival in the United States.

The film, written by Shelly Gitonga is based on a true story of a mother going through Postpartum depression.

Gitonga tells how a young mother is pushed to the edge by the daily struggles of life in Nairobi.

When her support system crumbles over the course of one day, she must decide whether she is able to care for her young child.

Postpartum depression, which is the onset of depressive episodes after childbirth, develops at a critical moment in a woman’s life and can continue for long periods.

Online research shows that likelihood of depressive episodes can be twice as high as during other periods of a woman’s life.

Some common signs of PPD include desperation, sadness, nausea and even thoughts of hurting self or the infant.

These symptoms often go undetected and untreated, wreaking havoc on partners and growth of infants .

“This movie was too loud from start to finish,” a gentleman who attended the premier said.

The man's reaction was in response to Baby Anna's cries from start to the end of the film.

Talia Jasmine, who was one of the main actors played the role Baby Anna.

Mugambi Nthiga, who moderated a panel of discussion at the end of the film said the film changed him.

“I think I have a change of heart. I came here expecting to see a film with a mentality of getting entertained but now I see things differently,” he said.

During the panel discussion, the film’s producer Shirleen Wangari and associate producer Naomi Mburuh spoke of how they struggled to pick and work on the film with Gitonga.

“When I saw the script, I was like, uhhhh… no. This is crazy. We are killing a baby here and I do not know how I feel about it,” Mburuh said.

“When Shelly approached me to work on the film together, the script was good but I was already working on another film. In the end, I thought why not give it a shot.”

“Producing this film was hard,” Wangari said.

Film director Eric Mwangi spoke of how he found it challenging to direct the film.

“I remember the first day we were on set, I went back home and sat quietly,” he said.

“My wife kept on wondering what was wrong with me and when she asked. I broke down into tears. What I experienced on day one of shooting this film is something I have never experienced.”

“I am glad to have been working together with a team of strong women,” Mburu said.

The co-star of the film, Mwixx Mutinda who played the role of the mother, Juliana, said she had to do a lot of research when she was picked for the role and handed the script.

“I talked to a number of mothers on how they cope with PPD and most of them ended up asking me, “Does the mother in the movie kill her baby?” and I was like wow, this is how mothers actually feel,” she said.

Mental health experts who were part of the panel discussion, said mothers need support and rest to get through this stage in their lives.

The film producers had mental health experts who were readily available for the cast and crew during filming.

The film received the People’s Choice award at the Sauti Zetu Film Festival in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The short film is live and available for watching on My Movies Africa platform, where one can rent it for two or seven days for Sh249 or own the movie for life for Sh599.

<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/WekUadPf-lBXAMFxVMoKDZ7hBf4OaWE3s2PFImlU_Dn1Iyzvim55wtImDiaYnfquqShFbvYGTXqMvI1tJUjRWlcBChzsCglECG1ifeNgTg=s750"/>

Source: https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2023-10-25-kenyan-film-on-postpartum-depression-gains-global-recognition/


 Kenyan film on postpartum depression gains global recognition


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

<strong> ‘ACT OF LOVE’ HAS NOW PREMIERED IN KENYA AND WORLDWIDE! </strong>

25th 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.

And it Premiered in style on Mashujaa Day (Friday 20th October 2023), at Anga Cinema, Diamond Plaza 2 in Parklands. Hosted by Mugambi Nthiga, packed Screens showed the Short Film, followed by a very engaging Panel Discussion about Post-Partum Depression, Maternal Health and Mental Health.

“Seeing so many Kenyans - Filmmakers and Non-Filmmakers, show up for our Premiere like they did, ignited a fire in me to create more entertainment that share impactful messages with the people”, says Ms. Shirleen Wangari, the Producer, at Blackwell Films. “A great team, working with great co-ordination, has made our Film, and our Premiere, a success. I feel so fortunate, and I thank God for each and every one of them.”

And the success of the Film is only just beginning, with ‘Act of Love’ just Selected for Under Our Skin Film Festival Kenya in Nairobi, on 09th-16th November 2023; as well as Fankeenna Film Fest in Somalia, on 27th October 2023. This is after being Selected for the prestigious Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) and Sauti Zetu Film Festival (where it won the People’s Choice Award) 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.

Furthermore, the Film is now available Worldwide, in all 195 Countries & Territories, to #RentFor2Days or #OwnForLife, via MyMovies.Africa™, here: https://app.mymovies.africa/view/f23879c9f04ad9b0

“As well as having ‘Act of Love’ on our own Service”, says Ms. Trushna Buddhdev-Patel, Chief Executive Officer & Content Director of YAKWETU™ - the Distributor, “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 Film.”

“We have also planned special Screenings 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, Maternal Health and Mental Health”, says Ms. Chloe Genga, Impact Producer at LightBox Africa. “And we’re open to Collaborating with any Partners who share our Vision”.

The ‘Act of Love’ Film 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 Naomi Mburuh Films, Film Studios and Jenga Leo.


The ‘Act of Love’ Premiere was Sponsored by PHAT! Productions, YAKWETU™, MyMovies.Africa™, SASA Mziki, Xpose, Xtreme, Mental 360, LightBox Africa and Kenya Film Commission; with Support from National Bank of Kenya, Pyypl Virtual Mastercard, SkillsHub and Anga Cinemas.

Here are Photos from the Premiere: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-Jpt53RgEPL5kSYV965D6yY2hALFW6co?usp=drive_link

For more Information, please Email distribution@yakwetu.africa


Notes to Editors:

1. ‘Act of Love’

After losing her job at a restaurant, Juliana (Mwixx Mutinda) 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

2. 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/

3. 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/

4. 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/

5. 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/

6. 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

7. 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/


‘ACT OF LOVE’ HAS NOW PREMIERED IN KENYA AND WORLDWIDE!


The short film “Act of Love” has captured the attention of film enthusiasts worldwide as it continues to be selected for esteemed film festivals.

This impactful narrative, inspired by a true story, unfolds in the heart of Nairobi, providing a moving portrayal of a young mother’s challenging journey in pursuit of a livelihood.

The film, featuring the talented Mwixx Mutinda, has received invitations to prestigious festivals such as the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) in Tanzania, the Swahili International Film Festival and Awards in Kenya, the Fragments Festival in the United Kingdom, and the Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC) Film Festival in the United States.

One of the recent additions to its impressive list of achievements is the coveted People’s Choice Award at the inaugural Sauti Zetu Film Festival, which took place in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, on the 13th and 14th of October, 2023.

This award is a testament to the film’s ability to connect deeply with audiences and spark meaningful discussions on critical topics such as human rights and social issues.

“Act of Love” stands as one of only three films to be recognized out of 117 entries from Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. The People’s Choice Award, determined by festival attendees, acknowledges the film that resonates most profoundly with viewers.

Ms Shelly Gitonga, the writer of the film, explains, “‘Act of Love’ is a film that compels society to confront the darker aspects of motherhood. Statistics reveal that Post-Partum Depression (PPD) affects 10-20% of women globally, but in Africa, the situation is even more dire, with 10-32% of women experiencing PPD.”

Ms Shirleen Wangari, the producer at Blackwell Films, adds, “In Kenya, the prevalence of this maternal mental health challenge is reported at 11-13%, impacting the well-being of mothers, newborns, families, and communities. PPD can impair a mother’s ability to care for her child and, in extreme cases, lead to post-partum psychosis, suicide, and/or infanticide.”

The film’s lead actress, Mwixx Mutinda, personally accepted the award in Tanzania and shared her thoughts.

“We had people who had watched ‘Act of Love’ at ZIFF, and they had come to watch it for the second time! 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 of “Act of Love” is scheduled for Friday, October 20, 2023, at Anga Cinema, Diamond Plaza 2 in Parklands, Nairobi.

The event will commence with a red carpet affair at 5:30 PM, followed by a cocktail reception and the screening at 7:00 PM.

A panel discussion featuring the cast and crew, moderated by Mugambi Nthiga, will take place at 7:30 PM.

“We intentionally chose to premiere ‘Act of Love’ on Mashujaa Day,” says Ms Trushna Buddhdev-Patel, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Content Director at YAKWETU™, the distributor.

“This is to stand with all the heroes, either personally or as supporters, who are dealing with Post-Partum Depression. Film possesses the extraordinary power to effectively communicate this issue and be a catalyst for conversation, which often leads to various life-changing supportive actions.”

Source: https://nairobinews.nation.africa/act-of-love-short-film-garners-international-recognition-for-its-powerful-message/


“Act of Love” short film garners international recognition for its powerful message

Showing posts from peoples-choice-award tag

Kenyan film on postpartum depression gains global recognition

‘ACT OF LOVE’ HAS NOW PREMIERED IN KENYA AND WORLDWIDE!

“Act of Love” short film garners international recognition for its powerful message