Top Ten Tuesdays: Our Best Kenyan Short Films
There has been an absolute smorgasbord recently when it comes to great short films coming from Kenyan filmmakers. The excellent creative output has been so high that short form movies in Kenya have started to require their own Vimeo group just to keep up with the demand to view them. With the Winter Future Shorts just around the corner we’ve decided to dedicate this week’s Top Ten Tuesday’s best that Kenyan films with small running times have to offer.
Waiting
This five and a half minute gem features a common topic of heated debate among Nairobians, waiting for someone who perpetually says they are ‘just around the corner’. Shot from the perspectives of both the impatient and worrisome guy, stuck waiting in the CBD, and the woman desperately playing catch up to meet him, this witty little piece of work will surely light up a discussion as to who is in the right and who will be left waiting.
The Roadside
This tale of love, romance and emotionally charged choices takes place largely in the wilderness, with the actors laying out a conflicted story of what modern love means in Kenya. It’s laden with taboo issues in relationships, from love-triangles to temptation. The story being told through a chance encounter brought on by a flat tire makes it all the more intriguing. The Roadside was directed by Willie Owusu.
To Catch a Dream
This thirteen minute featurette is a visually gorgeous look at grief, loss and the imagination. It’s the second fashion film to come out of the Nest Collective, who worked in conjunction with Chico Leco. The camera work and acting are exceptional in this one, be sure not to miss it. Check out our review of the film here. The short film was written and directed by Jim Chuchu, produced by Wangechi Ngugi with creative direction and styling from Sunny Dolat.
Deceit
This Mark Wambui directed nail biting ten minutes is almost too suspenseful to bear and tells a sordid tale of love, lust and the everyday struggle of monogamy. Deceit made a big international showing as an official selection for the 35th Durban Film Festival. Don’t watch Deceit while doing anything important in your life as it is impossible to look away from.
Miss Nobody
This hard hitting featurette from Hot Sun Films brings the viewer in with its intense look at corruption and using social media for good. It’s a tale that sheds light onto the difficulties faced by citizen journalists in Kenya as shown throw the lens of an up and coming activist reporter who has faced a great deal of adversity in her life. The film was directed by Nathan Colett
Gathered
This intensely trippy three minute short was made by a group of Nairobi artists and portrays works of art being projected onto the actors involved. It’s visually stunning, provocative and an all around great offering from director Tahir Carl Karmali.
Psycho
This one is short and frankly terrifying. Psycho portrays a clearly disturbed man as he goes about killing a series of hapless victims who stumble into his living room on the pretense that they were there to play video games. All of it is filmed by the killer and leaves the viewer with a definite feeling of unease with whoever stumbles across this “found footage” style short. Psycho was both written and directed by Mark Kaiyare.
Rapid Eye Movement
This exceptional film focuses on a young man who gains the ire of his friends when he starts to speak open about his celibacy. A great piece on social norms and the ultra-sexualized youth of today, Rapid Eye Movement is an engaging and discussion worthy piece of work by director Willie Owusu.
Sun For Rent
This remarkable documentary short from Kiiru Ngotho focuses on the possibilities going green has to offer to Kenya. Shot on location in Western Kenya using only natural light during the day and with solar powered lamps in the dark. The piece is sure to raise questions about how Kenya gets its power, and how renewable energy may be coming in force in the near future.
Box Girls
This documentary short takes a look at the boxing school for girls in Kariobangi, Nairobi. It’s a remarkable look at the struggle of Kenyan athletes to train and break down barriers through the lens of director Evan Pretzer
