Safari world premiere at the Cinekid Festival in the Netherlands

(Written by Chris Mutuku 12 October 2022)

For many years, Nollywood, Bollywood and Hollywood have dominated both the global and local film space. As a result, Kenyans have been forced to consume content produced outside the country. But this narrative has since changed after film producers discovered new ways to distribute their Kenyan produced content.

Since the Pandemic hit the country, and entirely the whole world, many film production companies both in the country and outside Kenya got immensely affected with most film producers forced to delay production and even release of their projects. The most affected being forced to call off their filmmaking career.

Despite all these challenges, many films and TV Series were produced during this period. One of the films being Safari which was shot in November 2020 at the pick of the Pandemic. 

Safari a Kenyan film produced by Rocque pictures Ltd, directed by Bill Afwani and distributed by Rushlake Media is set to have it's world premiere at the Cinekid Festival in the Netherlands on 17 October 2022.

The film which was partially funded by the Kenya Film Commission, follows a timid wheelchair-bound boy who, captive in his rural home, with the help of the cheeky girl next door Kiki, goes  on an adventure. Together, they escape in order to experience Kenya for the first time. The tale of Safari and his friend touches on many elements of life in rural Kenya today.

Lorella Jowi, the casting director hopes that Safari the movie charms many homes. In a statement she shared on social media, she hopes that the movie will spark the spirit of adventure, and inspire the young children to explore Kenya and it's beauty. She is an all-round creative; a producer, voice over artiste and casting director for numerous productions including Crime and justice and Team Sayari.

The director of the film, Bill, is a graduate from Kenyatta University.  He started his career by directing the award winning short film Sticking Ribbons. Bill won the best East African Talent at the 2014 Zanzibar International Film Festival. 

Ruguru Phoebe the film producer, has twice been nominated as young achiever of the year by African Women in Europe. Her short film Saidia won best young filmmaker of the modern day slavery competition in London.

Starring the young talent is Victor Fadhili and Abilasha Muthoni alongside Victor Nyaata who brings humour and charm in his role as the kids caretaker.