FILM & THEATRE

The Battle for Laikipia explores colonial legacies and land rights between pastoralists and white settlers in Kenya amid climate change.

After she falls for an internet romance scam, love blossoms between a lonely British woman and a boda boda driver in Nairobi.

'Nawi' explores the lives of girls in Turkana from a perspective previously limited to news banners and filtered discussions.

Mohamed Kordofani transports his audience into the heart of Sudan's complex socio-political landscape, reflecting on heartbreaking yet resonating themes embedded in the country's cultural and historical realities.

With films like 'Kifungo', Kenyan filmmaker Voline Ogutu is exploring untapped genres in Kenya while tackling human and relatable stories.

Oscars 2024 Best International Feature nominee 'Io Capitano' details the ghastly journey of African immigrants to Europe.

In his feature debut, Baloji contrives a mythical fable that seeks to question the very ideals from which our spirituality is derived.

Kenya's second Christmas feature follows the Nyatis as they prepare for the ultimate choir competition.

This is a film that relies too heavily on the familiarity of its cast to hide the blemishes in everything else.

The film chronicles the first year of half a dozen boys forced to defend themselves against a sea of opposition and personal trials in high school.

Pulling no punches, this play is full of sass and feminine pulchritude, weaponised brutally and wonderfully against all the evils of patriarchy.

In Kenya's second Christmas feature, the Nyatis have to get through the seven days of Christmas without killing each other. 

The play will be staged again at Ukumbi Mdogo at the Kenya National Theatre on 3 December.

'Kiza' explores the harsh realities of life such as land disputes, crime, unemployment, and betrayal.

Known for his Swahili storytelling, the director takes on his most audacious and ambitious project yet with his debut feature.

This documentary captures the life of Ugandan-musician-turned-opposition-politician Bobi Wine and his fight for his people.

Marking Daudi Anguka’s feature directorial debut, Mvera is a triumph for Kenyan cinema, and deservedly our official entry to Oscars 2024.

'An Instant Dad' earns its laughst and heart, and even those without a penchant for sentimentality might find themselves shedding a tear or two.

For this Kenyan documentary filmmaker, known for his socio-political storytelling, truth is often stranger, and more intriguing than fiction.

From 'The River Between' to 'Drunk' to 'Dust', here are Kenyan books that would make great movies and TV shows.

As the first Nigerian title to rank number one globally on Netflix, this film is a triumph for Nollywood, and for Africa, despite its flaws.

A wonderfully made documentary about a rather questionable experiment conducted in a small rural village in Western Kenya.

As Geoffrey, Mirichii gives one of the most outstanding performances an actor has ever delivered in the Kenyan film landscape.

This film would be more impactful if it didn't push its evangelical agenda at the expense of the Luo culture it's set in.

In this ZIFF Best Feature winner, an elderly widower struggles to hold onto his fading memories as those close to him scheme for his land.

'The Caller' is the kind of movie with all the right technical ingredients and an easily digestible plot worth every minute of a casual evening.

'Story Sosa' is a collection of stories from five different writers, all lacing to tell of different ideas of home they have grown up with.

'Graveyard Queens' delivers a heartfelt and resonant tribute, bringing the best of a generation of actors together on one stage.

Wamai discusses her journey creating the critically-acclaimed film and making it as raw and as genuine as possible.

The narrative doesn’t take itself too seriously for the most part, but when it should, it opens itself up and digs deep.

Films like this not only stir up conversations on taboo topics, they also raise the question of humanity and what little is left.

A mafia film strongly rooted in the Nigerian climate that doesn't try to reinvent itself like every gangster flick post-The Godfather.

'Watatu' highlights youth radicalisation, religious extremism, xenophobia, economic disparity, corruption and politics at the Kenyan coast.

'Safari' is a tear-jerking tale that embraces simple virtues that seem to have been forgotten by modern cinema and the modern world.

A collection of 10 animated short films which marks Disney+’s first all-African original project.

'Neptune Frost' feels like it's set at the right time, in not just human history but African history too.

Our film critic Kelvin Kariuki ranks the six short films from Netflix's 'African Folktales Reimagined' collection.

'Mama’s Mirror' brings a new taste, tackling the very heavy topic of losing a mother in the most unexpected way and time.

Just 'Hamlet' set in Kenya, sprinkled in with the reliable trope of twentieth century African pseudo-activism.

A new generation of six African filmmakers from across the continent adapt six traditional stories for contemporary Africa.

'Married to Work' is the latest Pan-African title on Netflix that leaves your memory as quickly as it enters it.

Even the drawbacks of the film feel like an intentional choice to avoid the voices of adults from diluting what is simply a story of a boy.

Sacrificing plot for beauty, 'Disconnect 2' chooses to simple not care for story at all.

Even with all the raw materials for a powerful emotional story, 'Christmas Love' feels underwhelming.

In 'Speak their Names', Silvia Cassini wields her mighty pen to present us a powerful tale set in the summer of 1587 in Triora.

In 'Blessed Be the Fruit', director Martin Kigondu takes us through a harrowing tale of a teenage nun.

'A Familiar Christmas' is simple enough to allow a family to glide in and out in the middle of watching it instead of worrying about the plot.

'No Simple Way Home' feels like what happens when true filmmakers seek out genuine stories and end up finding them rather easily close to home.

'Villains in the Metropolis' is a crime thriller by definition only as it largely fails to grasp the genre in its entire concept.

Our favourite Kenyan films on Netflix as ranked by our critic Kelvin Kariuki.

'Terastorm' doesn’t feel ready for a release, let alone as Kenya's submission for Best International Feature to the 95th edition of the Oscar.

'Nafsi' starts off as a truly warm story about friendship before it evolves into a dark tale of double cross without feeling like two movies.

Arguably Kenya's most successful film, 'Supa Modo' should be our 'Parasite.' Our 'Touki Bouki.' It genuinely deserves it.

The cast do their best with that they're offered, which just happens to be oftentimes, not good enough.

'Nairobi Half Life' is our omega, our first nuclear explosion of cinematic expression, and a distinctly Kenyan addition to the crime genre.

Every second of the film feels woven with a care and tenderness that exalts it as a phenomenal piece of visual art.

The play doesn’t quite fulfil its promise as it was marketed. It, however, takes a serious jab at how old, rich men pry on young girls.

The constant overbearing and jamming down the entire film with many half-baked themes, gives it a very watered down feel.

This play is a step in the right direction to redefine Kenya's slapstick stage comedy by highlighting important issues like queerness.

A few quirky moments here and there, a few interesting shots, but ultimately 'Look Both Ways' is a very tame and harmless film.

'Nairobby', like a good magical act of tying oneself down and letting the unwrapping be the entertainment, is an interesting but daunting watch.

'Rising Son' struggles to coalesce into a cogent, persuasive wholeness, as if distracted by its many detours and ideas.

While packed with noble intentions, Kenyan film 'Chaguo' falls short of creating a memorable political drama.

A collection of vignettes detailing the lives, achievements and flaws of the great rulers of the Bible, in both the Old and the New Testament.

A conventional story told in an even more conventional way, a stage play with no illusion, no poetry, and no wonder.

'Irregardless' highlights the country's flaws, showing that it's upon citizens to step up and decide who the truthful custodian of Kenya is.

Although the play is an adapted work, the director and the actors flesh it out successfully, centering it on the middle-class Nairobian.

'Click Click Bang' can be fun when given to it completely, the only problem is, it seems to be intent on preventing one from doing that.

The iconic play I Will Marry When I Want is returning to the Kenyan stage for the first time after 45 years.