Rafiki

Synopsis

“Good Kenyan girls become good Kenyan wives,” but Kena and Ziki long for something more. Despite the political rivalry between their families, the girls resist and remain close friends, supporting each other to pursue their dreams in a conservative society. When love blossoms between them, the two girls will be forced to choose between happiness and safety.

Director

Born in Nairobi, Wanuri is part of the new generation of African storytellers. Her stories and films have received international acclaim. Her films screened in numerous film festivals around the world. To date, Wanuri has written and directed six films. “Rafiki” is her second feature film.
She is the co-founder of Afrobubblegum, a media company that supports, creates and commissions fun, fierce and frivolous African art.
In 2008, Wanuri completed her first feature film “From A Whisper” based on the real life events surrounding the twin bombings of US Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in 1998. The film won awards at the Africa Movie Academy Awards including Best Director and Best Picture, the Golden Dhow award at Zanzibar International Film Festival and Best Film at Kalasha, Kenya Film and TV awards. Shortly after she completed a documentary about the life of Nobel peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai entitled “For Our Land” (2009) for M-Net “Great Africans” Series.
Her short Science Fiction Film “Pumzi” (2009) that was partially funded by Focus Features, Goethe Institut and Changa Moto Fund in Kenya, screened at Sundance in 2010. “Pumzi” won Best Short at Cannes Independent Film Festival, May 2010 and took Silver at Carthage Film Festival in 2010.
Wanuri was named a TED Fellow in 2017 and World Economic Forum cultural leader in 2018. Wanuri published her first children’s book, “The Wooden Camel” (Lanata Publishing), she is currently in post production on a feature length documentary “GER” (To Be Separate) and in pre-production on “Rusties” a near future science fiction film set in Nairobi.

Credits

CAST:

Kena: Samantha Mugatsia
Ziki: Sheila Munyiva
John Mwaura: Jimmi Gathu
Mercy: Nini Wacera
Peter Okemi: Dennis Musyoka
Rose Okemi: Patricia Amira
Blacksta: Neville Misati
Mama Atim: Muthoni Gathecha
Nduta: Nice Githinji
Waireri: Charlie Karumi
Tom: Vitalis Waweru
Elizabeth: Hellen Aura
Pastor: Githae Njogu

CREW:

Autorin/Regisseurin: Wanuri Kahiu
Koautor: Jenna Bass
Kamera: Christopher Wessels
Schnitt: Isabelle Dedieu
Zusatz-Schnitt: Ronelle Loots
Szenenbild: Arya Lalloo
Ton: Frederic Salles
Casting Director: Nini Wacera

PRODUCTION:

Producer: Steven Markowitz: Big World Cinema/Afrobubblegum
Co-Producers:
Marie-Pierre Macia & Claire Gadéa: MPM Film
Georges Schoucair: Schortcut Films
Ruben Thorkildsen & Verona Meier: Ape&Bjorn
Reinier Selen: Rinkel Film
Gerhard Meixner & Roman Paul: Razor Film
Wanuri Kahiu, Tamsin Ranger: Big World Cinema
Executive Producer:Tim Headington
In cooperation with: Tango Entertainment

PRESS & SALES

WORLD SALES:

MPM Premium/Orange Studio

GERMAN DISTRIBUTOR:

Salzgeber

Awards & Festivals:

World Premiere: Cannes – Un Certain Regard, 2018
Official Selection, Another View, Karlovy Vary Internatinal Film Festival, 2018
Official Selection, BFI London Film Festival, 2018
Official Selection, Toronto International Film Festival, 2018
Around the World in 14 Films Festival
Französische Filmtage, Tübingen/Stuttgart
LUCAS Kinder & Jugendfilmfestival