Alexander Karim Wins Best Actor at AFRIFF for Kenyan Thriller ‘The Dog’

Kenyan-Swedish thriller The Dog premiered in competition at the just concluded Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) 2024 in Lagos, where lead actor Alexander Karim won a Globe Award for Best Male Performance.

The film, which was also nominated for Best Film and Best Director at AFRIFF, is the long-awaited new feature from Swedish-Ugandan director Baker Karim.

“We are extremely proud to bring a major African award to Kenyan cinema,” says producer Olivier Guerpillon. “The Dog is a must-see for Kenyan and African audiences, thanks to a stellar cast and production values of the highest international standard. The award to Alexander Karim and the electric reception of the film at the AFRIFF has already shown us that the film resonates well with its audience, and we can’t wait to bring it to Kenya.”

Karim, The Dog’s lead, is a Swedish actor of Ugandan descent, soon to be seen in a major role in Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated Gladiator II, alongside Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington. He has also starred in international films and tv series as Tyrant, The Dying of the Light, and The Swarm. The Dog marks his first major role in an African film. 

Filmed entirely in Mombasa, The Dog is described as a hard-boiled Kenyan thriller that follows a small-time drug dealer (Karim) on a mission to save a young escort he has been tasked with protecting. It also stars a range of Kenyan actors including Caroline Midimo (Country Queen), Robert Agengo (The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind), Lorna Lemi (Nairobby), and breakout talent Caroline Muthoni as the aforementioned escort Kadzo.

The Dog was co-written by Karim (Baker) with Kenyan filmmakers Victor Gatonye (40 Sticks) and George Mungai, with cinematography by Andrew Mungai (Shimoni) and Baker Karim. The film is produced by Swedish film company Bad Flamingo in co-production with Fox in the Snow and Film i Skåne, alongside Kenyan production house Zamaradi (Kina, Borderline). Producers are Olivier Guerpillon, Helene Hillerström and Baker Karim from Sweden, in collaboration with Kenya’s Appie Matere.