At last night’s Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs) in Lagos, Kenyan dramedy Untying Kantai won Best Writing in a TV Series, beating Nigerian titles such as Seven Doors (Netflix), Princess on a Hill (Showmax), Cheta’M (Showmax), Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre (Netflix), Roses & Ivy (Amazon Prime Video), and Kenya’s Tuki.
At the same event, Kenyan feature Makosa ni Yangu won Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa). While these were Kenya’s only two wins out of 11 nominations, it’s notable to mention that both titles were produced by Philit Productions.
Founded by Phil Karanja and Abel Mutua, Philit gained prominence with the hit comedy series Sue na Jonnie in 2017. The company has since ventured into feature films, with its debut A Grand Little Lie (2021) earning an AMVCA nomination for Best Indigenous Language Film (Swahili) in 2022.
At the 2023 AMVCAs, their second feature Click Click Bang won Best Movie (East Africa) and Best Indigenous Language Film (Swahili). These two categories have since been merged as the awards look to streamline their categories.
With Untying Kantai and Makosa ni Yangu’s wins, Philit is now the only Kenyan production to be awarded three times at the AMVCAs, a milestone that aligns with its vision to woo African audiences while solidifying its presence at home.
Released in December 2024, the newly crowned Best Indigenous Movie (East Africa) Makosa ni Yangu premiered to a historic audience of 6,000 attendees — a first for Kenya — in a three-part event featuring the film screening, a concert, and Abel Mutua’s one-hour storytelling set. Inspired by true events, the drama follows a young woman who falls for a wealthy charmer, only to find herself trapped in a violent, abusive relationship.
Untying Kantai, part of Showmax’s 2024 Kenya relaunch slate, tells the story of a man who stumbles upon a lucrative but illegal business opportunity and, against his better judgment, dives headfirst into a world of danger and deceit.
Speaking to Sinema Focus after the win, co-founder Phil Karanja said, “Of course, I’m ecstatic because it always feels good to win. But most importantly, I’m happy for the fact that our hard work is getting noticed. It shows that Kenyan stories are ready to travel, and that they can garner international audiences across Africa and even beyond. So, for those who’ve been saying Kenyan storytelling is not up to par, I think we’re well on our way. And I’d like to thank my entire crew, cast and team of writers. We’ve put in a lot of work and crazy hours, and it’s paying off.”
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