Kalasha 2019 Nomination Academy
DR. RACHEAL DIANG’A
Dr. Rachael is an Assistant Professor of Film and the Chair of Cinematic Arts Department. She holds a PhD in Film Technology and has over fifteen years’ experience in film research and scholarship. Her research interests lie within African Cinema. She is the author of the first book on Kenyan Cinema: African Re-creation of Western Impressions: A Focus on the Kenyan Film (2011) and several journal articles/book chapters on Postcolonial and African Cinema. In practice, she has made a mark in the film industry through her contribution as a film maker, film workshop trainer and mentor, film critic and adjudicator in several film festivals including FilmAid International Film Festival, Udada International women’s Film Festival and Kenya National Drama Festivals (Film Genre). Diang’a has produced and/or directed several films including: Our Strength (2012), The Invisible Workers (2013), Drugnets (2015) and Mad Love (2018). Her film production interests are in Scriptwriting, Directing, Acting, and Production. She is a member of several professional guilds including, Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK), Kenya Film and Television Professionals Association (KFTPA), Kenya Scriptwriters Guild (KSG) and a member of CODESRIA.
LINDA KARURU
Linda is one of Kenya’s leading producers, with over 15 years of experience in the TV & film industry. She is one of the women on the frontier of telling African narratives. Linda is Executive Producer and Head of Production at Film Crew in Africa which is a production company based in Nairobi, with offices in Tanzania & Uganda. As someone who believes in women empowerment, she is always taking the time to mentor and pass on her knowledge and passion for film to the next generation of women film makers in Kenya. She has produced over 100 TV commercials across the continent and One of her most notable feats is producing over 50 1-hour films for Mnet dubbed AMOF (Africa Magic Original Films) in the span of a year and half. Linda is a member of the Producers Guild Of Kenya as well as well as part of the Kenya Film and Television Professionals Association. She is also an alumni of the global Vital Voices Grow fellowship. By being a part of these bodies and contributing her knowledge, she practices the African spirit of Ubuntu which speaks to growth for all. As a motorsport enthusiast and conservationist, her sense of adventure and wonder is clear in her pursuits. She was part of an all-female team “Pinks in Charge” who take part in the annual Rhino Charge, an event that raises funds to support the conservation activities of the Rhino Ark. She has also taken part in the rally raid a local motorsport competition.
FRED MAKORI
Fred holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design with professional training in Film & TV production. He has more than 10 years’ experience in the media industry as a Graphic designer, TV and Film Producer & Director. He has experience in Film and Documentary Producing and Directing, TV Drama Producing and Directing, TV concept development, Production coordinating, Editorial research, documentary and Film. He has worked for Nation Media Group, Media Development in Africa (MEDEVA), Radio Africa Group, Uungwana Initiative, Docubox, and currently work is the Production Manager at the first Kenya’s 24-hour Business Channel – Metropol TV . Among the Productions he is involved includes; Amplified Voices (a Documentary on Women empowerment); Rock Solid (Short Film); The Farm Journal (A TV Show on Agribusiness) and Agenda Kenya (A weekly current affairs studio based talk show)
IRENE MUKONYORO
Irene is a Television Producer with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Production from the University of Nairobi, and currently working on her Thesis (M.A. communication Studies with a major in Development Communication) at the same university.
She has around 15 years’ experience in Television Production, and has worked in the following companies;
Multichoice – Mnet (MME) as Commissioning Editor for Maisha Magic East as well as Pearl Magic; Pixell8 Productions as Producer (Documentaries); FilmAid Kenya as Consulting Production Manager (Docu-Dramas in Kakuma, Turkana, Isiolo, Samburu, Meru, Nairobi); Buni Media as Production Manager (The XYZ Show 7 Seasons); The Mediae Company as Producer – Makutano Junction 7 Seasons and Production Manager MJ 6 Seasons.
She has vast experience in production practices and some of the organisations she has done documentaries for include World Food Program, Windle Trust Kenya, OHCHR, and UNHCR. In all these Production houses she has been actively involved in the planning, development and finally execution of all the productions.
KANG’ETHE MUNGAI
Kang’ethe is a film producer, director and script writer based in Nairobi Kenya. Kang’ethe has produced several successful Feature Films, TV series and documentaries that have won several accolades which include Kalasha Awards, Zanzibar International Film Festival, Ugandan Film Festival, slum film festival among others. His content has received sufficient air play on both local and International platforms such as Africa Magic, Showmax, NTV, KTN, k24 among others.
Over the years Kang’ethe has built his production company Kikwetu Productions to be one of the leading brands in Kenya; he is also the Riverwood Ensemble filmmakers’ association chairman.
IRENE KARIUKI
Irene Kariuki is an experienced Film and Television Actress and a renowned Radio Voice over Artist with a career that has spanned 25 years. She has featured in both local and international film and TV and Radio Shows. She is an experienced Producer as well as the founding Director of Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK), a CMO charged for collecting royalties on behalf of Performers in Kenya. She is currently the Chairperson of Kenya Actors Guild.
DENNIS MBUTHIA
Dennis is a game designer and animator at Adala Studios Ltd. He has 8 years industry experience and has worked on over 12 motion graphic campaigns, 4 animation (2D) short films and 1 board game. Dennis has handled various positions from a 2D animator, motion grapher and game designer. He is the current Treasurer of Association of Animation Artistes Kenya, 1st Runner up in an AR/VR Competition and one of 3 finalists at the Chezo Gaming Hackathon. Dennis has a passion for animation projects and games that bring innate joy and learning to the everyday lives of his customers and clients. He has been a teacher at ADMI since 2015 and at Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) since 2014. He hopes to inspire the artists in his class to be the best they can be and impact the world with their individual skill set. Dennis is a graduate of Jomo Kenyatta University and has a BSc. in Mechatronic Engineering and an Animation and digital design Certificate holder from Homeboyz Animation School. He seats in the OSCAR Selection Committee Kenya since 2017 representing the Kenyan animation industry and volunteers at Destiny Chapel as an Animator and Graphic Designer. Learning and teaching are his key passions and is willing to share his knowledge and expertise to all who will listen.
SIMON PETER VICTOR OTIENO
Dr. Simon Peter has a PHD in performing arts and Film studies from the University of Leeds UK. He is the coordinator of film at the Kenya National Drama and Film committee. He is a lecturer of film studies at the University of Nairobi. He is also a scriptwriter and director of film and has been involved in many films including two major international films (Lion Standing in the wind in 2015 with Japanese film company-Rakuesha and Sunset at Dawn documentary in 2019 by the University of Leeds.