Awards Categories

FILM CATEGORIES

1. Best Feature Film

Awarded to an outstanding fictional or factual film with a running time of 60 minutes or more, demonstrating excellence in storytelling, direction, performance, and technical execution.

2. Best Short Film

Recognizes the best fictional or factual film with a running time of up to 40 minutes.

3. Best Documentary (Feature & Short)

Honours a non-fiction film that presents factual content, compelling storytelling, and strong research or real-life exploration. To qualify, the documentary must have a minimum running time of 40 minutes.

4. Best Animation

Awarded to an animated film of any length that demonstrates excellence in visual creativity, storytelling, character design, and animation technique.

5. Best Kenyan Indigenous Language Film

Recognizes the best film (feature, short, or animation) produced primarily in a Kenyan indigenous language and showcasing cultural authenticity.

6. Best Director

Awarded to the director of a feature, short, or documentary film demonstrating strong artistic vision, creative leadership, and storytelling mastery.

7. Best Director of Photography

Recognizes excellence in cinematography, including camera work, lighting, image composition, and visual style.

8. Best Original Screenplay

Awarded for the best original, non-adapted script demonstrating strong story structure, dialogue, theme, and creativity.

9. Best Sound Designer

Honours outstanding work in sound design, including recording, mixing, sound effects, ambience, and overall audio creativity.

10. Best Film Score

Recognizes excellence in original music composition that enhances the mood, emotion, and storytelling of the film.

11. Best Editor

Celebrates outstanding film editing that demonstrates rhythm, continuity, pacing, narrative clarity, and creative transitions.

12. Best Gaffer

Awarded to the chief lighting technician who demonstrates exceptional skill in designing and executing lighting that enhances mood, tone, and visual style.

13. Best Visual Effects (VFX)

Recognizes excellence in digital or practical visual effects that enhance the storytelling while maintaining realism and technical quality.

14. Best Production Designer

Honours exceptional design and creation of the film’s visual world, including sets, props, locations, and overall aesthetic.

15. Best Make-up Artist

Recognizes outstanding work in character make-up, special make-up effects, prosthetics, and overall appearance design.

16. Best Costume Designer

Awarded for excellence in costume design that supports character, period accuracy, and storytelling.

17. Best Lead Actor (Film)

Recognizes the best performance by a male or female actor in a lead role in either a short or feature film.

18. Best Supporting Actor (Film)

Awarded for outstanding performance by an actor in a supporting role in a short or feature film.

19. Best Lead Actress (Film)

Recognizes the best performance by a female actor in a lead role in either a short or feature film.

20. Best Supporting Actress (Film)

Awarded for outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role in a short or feature film.

TV CATEGORIES

1. Best TV Drama

Awarded to an outstanding scripted television series demonstrating excellence in story, acting, and production quality.

2. Best Unscripted TV Show

Recognizes the best reality, factual, talent, lifestyle, or non-scripted program.

3. Best TV Comedy

Honours the best comedy series demonstrating strong humour, acting, writing, and production.

4. Best TV Director

Awarded to a director of a TV drama or comedy for outstanding creative direction and execution.

5. Best TV Screenplay (Original)

Recognizes the best original script written for a TV drama or comedy.

6. Best Actor in a TV Drama

Awarded to the male actor with the best performance in a TV drama.

7. Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama

Honours the best supporting performance by a male actor in a TV drama.

8. Best Actress in a TV Drama

Awarded to the female actor with the best performance in a TV drama.

9. Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama

Recognizes the best supporting performance by a female actor in a TV drama.

10. Best Comedy Act

Awarded to the most outstanding individual or ensemble performance in a TV comedy show.

SPECIAL AWARDS

1. Best Student Film

Recognizes the best film produced by a student as part of film school or training program.

2. Best Student Documentary

Awarded to an exceptional documentary produced by a student.

3. Best International Award

Recognizes an outstanding submission from outside Kenya that demonstrates excellence in global filmmaking.

4. Best Children Production

Awarded to a film or TV production aimed at children, focusing on creativity, education, entertainment, and age-appropriate content.

5. Lifetime Achievement Award

Honours a veteran who has made a significant, long-term contribution to the development of the film and TV industry.

6. Kituo Halisi Award

Recognizes a film or TV production that authentically showcases Kenyan culture, heritage, identity, and storytelling traditions.

7. Best Video Game (XR/VR)

Awarded to the best video game or immersive experience using VR, XR, AR, or mixed reality technologies.

8. People’s Choice Award (Feature Film)

A public-voted award recognizing the most popular feature film of the year.

9. People’s Choice Award (TV)

A public-voted award recognizing the most popular TV production of the year.

10. Jury Award

A special award given by the jury to outstanding productions that push boundaries—e.g., experimental films, works by PLWD, marginalized communities, or innovative storytelling.