Kitale Film Week Announces Opening and Closing Films, Unveils 2025 Lineup

The Kitale Film Week has today announced its 2025 lineup, selecting Nawi and Our Land, Our Freedom as opening and closing films, respectively. Now in its third edition, the festival will run from 2 February to 9 February, showcasing films from Kenya as well as from Africa. “Kitale will become a cinematic hub, hosting narrative features, documentaries, short films, and animated works that explore themes ranging from social justice to cultural heritage, environmental sustainability, and the transformative power of storytelling,” says Festival Director Peter Pages Bwire. “This year’s lineup reflects the incredible diversity and depth of stories that Africa and the world have to offer,” says Bwire. “We are thrilled to share these remarkable films with our community and the global audience.”

According to Bwire, this year’s selection boasts over 50 films from 20 countries, spanning multiple genres and styles, offering a platform for both established and emerging filmmakers.

Opening film Nawi follows a young girl who escapes her impending marriage and embarks on a journey to reclaim her dream of joining high school. Nawi was selected by the Kenya Film Commission (KFC) as Kenya’s Best International Feature submission to the 2025 Oscars but it didn’t make the final shortlist. For her role as the titular Nawi, newcomer Michelle Lemuya won Best Young/Promising Actor the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in November in Lagos. The film is co-directed by Toby Schmutzler, Kevin Schmutzler, Vallentine Chelluget, Apuu Mourine and co-produced by Lydia Wrensch, Caroline Heim and Brizan Were.

Read Our Review: Kenya’s Oscars 2025 Entry ‘Nawi’ Confronts An Age-Old Turkana Tradition

Closing film Our Land, Our Freedom follows Wanjugu Kimathi’s quest to uncover the truth about her father, the legendary Mau Mau leader Dedan Kimathi, while also exploring British colonial atrocities in Kenya. Working closely with her mother, Mukami Kimathi, their efforts spark a larger movement, transforming Wanjugu into a powerful advocate championing justice and land resettlement for those dispossessed. Our Land, Our Freedom won Best Documentary (Honorable Mention) at DocsBarcelona 2024 and Best Documentary Film at Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) 2024. The film is co-directed by Zippy Kimundu and Meena Nanji, and co-produced by Eliane Ferreira, Meena Nanji and Zippy Kimundu.

Read Our Review: ‘Our Land, Our Freedom’ – A Haunting Ode to the Mau Mau

Also in the lineup is Ousmane Sembène’s Mandabi (The Money Order), Tosh Gitonga’s groundbreaking Nairobi Half Life, AMAA winning romcom Boda Love, and AMAA winning short Counterpunch.

See the full festival lineup below:

Narrative Feature Films

2 Asunder (2024) – Kenya, Directors: Fakii Liwali, Tony Mwaura

A Country Called Ghana (2024) – Ghana, Director: Frank Gharbin

Boda Love (2024) – Kenya, Director: Janet Wells

Half Life (2024) – Uganda, Director: Mulindwa Richard

Hanami (2024) – Cape Verde, Director: Denise Fernandes

Heroes of Africa: Tetteh Quashie (2020) – Ghana, Director: Frank Fiifi Gharbin

I Know My Rights (2024) – Kenya, Director: Lord Muga Brian

Karamoja (2023) – Uganda, Director: Mathew Nabwiso

Kintu (2024) – Uganda, Director: Denis Junior Dhikusooka

Kismet (2024) – Cameroon, Director: Ngang Romanus Ntseh

Maria (2024) – Uganda, Director: Nana Kagga

Mission Xylara (2024) – Uganda, Director: Denis Junior Dhikusooka

Nawi (2024) – Kenya, Directors: Kevin Schmutzler, Toby Schmutzler, Apuu Mourine Munyes, Vallentine Chelluget

Otis Janam (2024) – Kenya, Director: Zippy Okoth

Present Past (2024) – Uganda, Director: N. Salma Bynes

Sabotage (2024) – Uganda, Director: Mathew Nabwiso

The Passenger (2023) – Uganda, Director: Hadijah Nakanjako

Wamaitha (2024) – Kenya, Director: Kang’ethe Mungai

African Classics

Bala Bala Sese (2015) – Uganda, Director: Lukyamuzi Bashir

Dancing in the Dust / Bal Poussière (1989) – Ivory Coast, Director: Henri Duparc

Life Is Rosy / La Vie est Belle (1987) – DR Congo, Directors: Benoît Lamy, Mwezé Ngangura

Mandabi / The Money Order (1968) – Senegal, Director: Ousmane Sembène

Nairobi Half Life (2012) – Kenya, Director: Tosh Gitonga

The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun / La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil (1999) – Senegal, Director: Djibril Diop Mambéty

Documentary Feature Films

Afrikki (2024) – Senegal, Director: Gaëlle Le Roy

Brief Tender Light (2023) – Ghana, Director: Arthur Musah

Descendants of Broken Heroes (2024) – Kenya, Director: John Waiganjo

Here We Are (2024) – Dominican Republic, Director: Violeta Lockhart

Limo On The Run (2024) – Kenya, Directors: Njoki Muhoho, Hanigun Kwenya

Our Land, Our Freedom (2024) – Kenya, Directors: Meena Nanji, Zippy Kimundu

The Destiny of a Truck Driver (2024) – Burkina Faso, Director: Yssouf Koussé

Short Films

1992 (2024) – Kenya, Director: Gilbert Lukalia

All Equal! (2024) – Senegal, United Kingdom, Director: Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba Diop

Angel in the Stone (2024) – Nigeria, Director: Doyinsola Ajayi

Art Piece (2024) – Zambia, Director: Chizzi Banda

As I Dream (2024) – Uganda, Director: Eunice Acan

Bahari Bingwa (2024) – Kenya, Director: Samuel Wanjohi

Binti Maji and the Ocean (2020) – Kenya, Directors: Sheldon Mutei Ndumbu, Gift Kyansimire Oroni

Black Skin (2024) – Central African Republic, Directors: Nephtalie Tyrana Tobona, Daniel Ananias Momou-Mongui, Safari Ally Sengaire

Broken (2024) – Uganda, Director: Clive Nshiime

Counterpunch (2024) – Kenya, Uganda, Director: Rodney Williams

Dawn After Darkness (2024) – Rwanda, Director: Muhire Methode

Death Valley (2023) – Kenya, Director: Kennedy Kyalo

Emunyenye (2024) – Uganda, Director: Brian Vons Mukisa

Endless Loop (2023) – Nigeria, Director: ‘Che Messiah

Fatherhood (2024) – Kenya, Uganda, Director: Amisha Mukasa

Fractured (2024) – Uganda, Director: Josephine Mary Namirembe

Gas (2024) – Kenya, Directors: Emmanuel Chege, Rebecca Keli

Grogans Lodge (2023) – Kenya, Director: Isaya Evans

Half Chocolate Half Vanilla (2024) – Uganda, Director: Nodryn Evanci Kabuye

He Knows This Place (2024) – Kenya, United States, Director: Melissa Lefkowitz

I Too, Crave Death (2024) – Nigeria, Director: Uchenna Ugwu

Kuyo (2024) – Kenya, Director: Don Otieno Okinyi

Love Sweet Sound (2019) – Kenya, Director: Neha Manoj Shah

Mata Hari (2024) – Kenya, Director: Calvin Mandaga Oyula

Ndoto (2023) – Kenya, Director: Omar Hamza

Njambi And The Missing Bananas (2024) – Kenya, Director: Wanyuru Muiruri

Obukade Busatu (2024) – Uganda, Director: Nsiima Chloe Elizabeth

Roots of Renewal (2024) – Kenya, Director: Franklyne Mudulia Manono

Rudi (2024) – Kenya, Director: Derrick Njuguna Kinyanjui

Salamatu’s Rhapsody (2024) – Nigeria, Directors: Abu-bakr S. Adamu, Oluwatimilehin Adejumo

Sounds of Silence (2024) – Kenya, Director: Joan Mwihaki Kabugu

Stray Flower (2022) – Namibia, Germany, Director: Nandi Nastasja

The Boy From Kampala (2024) – Uganda, Director: Vieri KavumaThe Day I Will Never Forget (2024) – Kenya, Director: Viboks Omondi

The Equalizer (2024) – Kenya, Director: Brenda Maina

The Fetish / Le Fétiche (2023) – Côte d’Ivoire, Director: Kouamé Mathurin Samuel Codjovi

The Little Things (2024) – Kenya, Director: Jevin Mulwa

The Sorghum Sisters (2024) – Kenya, Director: Tabitha Maina

The Street Chase (2024) – Kenya, Director: Rabin Lucas Makori

Thief (2024) – Kenya, Directors: Andrew Evans Odera, Greg Kiwo Maole

TicTok (2024) – Central African Republic, Directors: Cassandra Ndouba, Aminou Mohamadou, Elvera Nkodia

Tiny Winnie (2023) – Kenya, Director: Joshua Kasyu Wambua

Unasemaje? (2024) – Tanzania, Director: Kelvin Kagambo

Unyagoni: Bahati’s Sex Education Journey (2024) – Kenya, Director: Saitabao Kaiyare