Nominees for the 14th edition of the Kalasha International Film and TV Awards were announced yesterday (March 25), with short film Owadwa leading with 14 nominations. The second most nominated film is Sukari with 13 nominations, followed by The Dog with ten.
This year’s nominations paint a picture of an industry in transition, with both big-budget productions and intimate storytelling films standing out.
In the coveted Best Feature Film category, the spotlight is on Nawi by Brizan Were and The Dog by Appie Matere. The two films, alongside the star-powered Sketchy Africans produced by Vincent Mbaya and Sally Nyoike, signal a leap in narrative ambition and production value.
The Short Film category has its own standout contender in Sukari by June Wairegi, which has not only dominated its category but also spilled into acting nominations. Its stars, Juma Mdoe and Mumtaz Dhulfiqar, are both in contention for Best Lead Actor and Actress.
The television segment reflects an equally dynamic landscape, particularly in the TV Drama category. Grace Kahaki has made a strong impression with nominations for Kash Money and the fourth season of Single Kiasi.
They face stiff competition from established productions such as MTV Shuga Mashariki and Big Girl Small World by Nick Mutuma.
In the acting categories, a mix of veteran gravitas and contemporary star power is evident. Industry stalwart John Sibi-Okumu stands alongside celebrated performers such as Sanaipei Tande, Melvin Alusa and Jimmy Gathu, for the Best Lead Actor and Actress in a TV Drama categories.
Perhaps the most politically resonant entry this year is The People Shall, directed by Nick Wambugu and Mark Maina. The documentary captures the intensity of the 2024–2025 youth-led protests against the Finance Bill, chronicling a defining chapter in Kenya’s civic history.
Through its lens, the film charts the evolution of Gen Z activism — from digital mobilisation to street protests; while confronting themes of governance, police brutality, and resistance. Its nomination signals the growing role of documentary filmmaking as both a historical archive and a tool for social commentary.
Beyond the actors and directors, the technical categories reveal an industry honing its craft to global standards. Practitioners like Damien Hauser and Omar Hamza have earned multiple nominations across editing, sound design, and visual effects.
Hauser’s work on Memory of Princess Mumbi and Owadwa exemplifies the technical sophistication now defining Kenyan productions.
Meanwhile, the Best Original Screenplay category — featuring scripts like Transaction and Kanairo — points to a new era of bold, layered storytelling.
The People’s Choice Awards remain a key barometer of audience sentiment. Popular titles such as Family Vacation starring Sarah Hassan and the gritty Boda Love have built strong fan bases.
The Kenya Film Commission-run awards attracted 185 submissions across 40 categories.
“Fourteen years ago, we planted a seed to celebrate creativity, professionalism, and resilience that define this sector,” said Kenya Film Commission (KFC)CEO Timothy Owase.
The nominees were selected by an eight-member jury drawn from across the film ecosystem, with international representation, blending professional critique with audience appeal through both jury-based and public voting categories. Winners will each take home Sh200,000.
“The business of storytelling serves as a vital engine for the broader economy, stimulating growth across tourism, hospitality, transport, and digital services. According to the FISA Report, the film and broadcasting sector contributed an average of 0.4 per cent to Kenya’s GDP between 2016 and 2022, proving that the creative industry is a foundational pillar of national prosperity,” said Owase.
For Peter Kawa, the chair of Kenya Actors Guild (KAG), the breadth and quality of nominations reflect a sector brimming with potential.
“When you look at all the nominations across categories, there is so much talent and stiff competition. There are no outright favourites—everything is up there,” he said.
He also pointed to the increasing inclusion of digital content creators as a sign of the industry’s evolution in an era shaped by online platforms.
The Kenya Film Commission has opened up the awards to the public, inviting audiences to vote for their favourite nominees and attend screenings at Anga Cinemas and Alliance Française centres in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa.
The awards season will culminate in the Kalasha International Film and TV Market and Festival from May 28 to 30, before the grand finale — the Awards Gala — on June 2, 2026, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
Full list of nominees
Best Feature Film
Nawi (Brizan Were)
The Dog (Appie Matere)
Sketchy Africans (Vincent Mbaya & Sally Nyoike)
Safari (Reuben Odanga)
She Gets Me (Millicent Ogutu)
Best Lead Actor in a Film
Juma Mdoe as Abbas (Sukari)
Brian Furaha as John (Owadwa)
Joe Kinyua as Him (She Gets Me)
Jeff Omondi as Johnte (Kanairo)
Alexander Karim as Mz (The Dog)
Bruce Makau as Jafari (2 Asunder)
Elsaphan Njora as Mburu (Transaction)
Best Lead Actress in a Film
Mumtaz Dhulfiqar as Qadra (Sukari)
Michelle Lemuya as Nawi (Nawi)
Gachiki Gachiki as Waks (Transaction)
Nyokabi Macharia as Miriam (Sketchy Africans)
Shandra Apondi as Mumbi (Memory of Princess Mumbi)
Angela Mwandanda as Her (S.he Gets Me)
Beatrice Kamuyu as Mama Mark (Owadwa)
Best Short Film
Sukari (June Wairegi)
Owadwa (Celine Onditi)
Kanairo (Clementina Kabutha)
Transaction (Wanjeri Gakuru)
Ajeni (Louise Kamwangi)
Best TV Drama
Kash Money (Grace Kahaki)
MTV Shuga Mashariki (Kevin Njue)
Big Girl Small World (Nicholas Munene Mutuma)
Single Kiasi (Grace Kahaki)
Prefects (June Ndinya Aaqib)
Best Lead Actor in a TV Drama
John Sibi Okumu as Joe (Kash Money)
Emmanuel Mugo as Kassim (Big Girl Small World)
Basil Mungai as Salaton (MTV Shuga Mashariki)
Jimmy Gathu (The Chocolate Empire)
Melvin Alusa as Red (Subterranea)
Kelvin Maina as Richie (Single Kiasi)
Joe Kinyua as Njoro (Njoro wa Uba)
Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama
June Njenga as Ciku (Big Girl Small World)
Mwende Kingori as Abura (Paa)
Sanaipei Tande as Nina Njenge (Kash Money)
Hellen Keli as Bridgit Mbotela (Lazizi)
Foi Wambui as Pink (Subterranea)
Serah Wanjiru as Nyokabi (MTV Shuga Mashariki)
Minnie Kariuki as Maria (Single Kiasi)
Technical & Special Awards
Best Original Screenplay: Sukari, Transaction, Owadwa, Kanairo, S.he Gets Me, Ngone Mwaitu, Memory of Princess Mumbi, Sketchy Africans, Nawi.
Best Director: Omar Hamza (Sukari), Mark Maina (The People Shall), Shandra Apondi (Owadwa), Toby Schmutzler et al. (Nawi), Wanjeri Gakuru (Transaction), Cecimercy Wanza (Kanairo), Baker Karim (The Dog), Damien Hauser (Memory of Princess Mumbi).
Best Documentary: The People Shall, Letters to Dad, Unyangoni, Beyond Boundaries.
Best Animation: Lore, The Big Sad Nairobi, Kito and Chacha: The Leader.
Best Student Film: Dinner for Three, Dumpside Guardian, Ifikie Governor, Spin to Loose, Own Goal.
Best International Film: Jimbi, Half Chocolate Half Vanilla, Take My Hand, Uhuru.
People’s Choice – Feature Film
Nawi, The Dog, Sketchy Africans, Safari, S.he Gets Me, Makosa Ni Yangu, 2 Asunder, Cards on the Table, Boda Love, Family Vacation.
People’s Choice – TV Drama
Kash Money, MTV Shuga Mashariki, Big Girl Small World, Single Kiasi, Prefects, Subterranea, Chocolate Empire, Paa, Adam to Eve, Mo-Faya.
