Nairobi News

Kati Kati film swept the board at this year’s Kalasha International Awards on Saturday night at a red carpet event at Crown Plaza Hotel, Nairobi.

The film won five awards for Best Director Of Photography (Andrew Mungai), Best Director (Mbithi Masya) and Best Editor (Louiza Wanjiku). The film also collected Best Special Effects Award and Best Feature Film.

Kati Kati is a film on a mythical place in between life and the afterlife, has been submitted for next year’s 90th Academy Awards (Oscars) in the Best Foreign Language Film Award.

Kati Kati is one of the two entries that the Oscars Selection Committee Kenya received, the other one being Kidnapped, a film about a jilted lover’s revenge.

Newly married actress Catherine Kamau popularly known for her role as Celina in Mother in-Law TV series was voted the Best Actress In a TV Drama for the show Sue Na Jonni while Martin Githinji scooped the Best Actor In a TV Drama award.

Other big winners of the night were XYZ Show which won the Best Animation Award and Faiba commercial that was voted the Best TV Commercial.

Kalasha is an annual accolade presented by Kenya Film Commission to deserving filmmakers. The inaugural awards were held in 2010 and subsequent awards are held yearly in the last quarter of the year.

This year’s event was graced by notable players in the local film industry with Kenya Film Classification Board CEO, Ezekiel Mutua, among those present.

Full list of the winners:

1. Best Actress In a TV Drama – Catherine Kamau

2. Best Actor In a TV Drama – Martin Githinji

3. Best actor – Frank Kimani – Uyu Ni Mwarigwo

4. Best Supporting Actresses – Wanjiku Njoroge

5. Best Supporting Actor – Antony Ndungu

6. Best Documentary Award – Soundman

7. Best TV Drama – Sue na Jonnie

8. Best Comedy – Hullabaloo Estate

9. Best Sound Design – Florian Osnah

10. Best TV Documentary – Matwana Culture

11. Best Director of Photography – Andrew Mungai – Kati Kati

12. Best Director – Mbithi Masya – Kati Kati

13. Best Original Screenplay – John Kararahe – Kidnapped

14. Best Local Language Award – Pendo

15. Best Short Film Award – Uyu ni Mwariguo

16. Best Editor – Louiza Wanjiku – Kati Kati

17. Best Special Effects Award – Kati Kati

18. Best Animation Award – XYZ Show

19. Lifetime Achievement Award – Joseph Kioni

20. Best Watershed Compliant TV Station – Miracle TV

21. Best Host Award – Teddy Muthusi – Lion’s Den

22. Best Documentary By a Student – Gifted soul

23. Best Feature Film – Kati Kati

24. Best Documentary – Sound Man

25. Best Feature by a Student – Detox

26. Best TV Commercial – Faiba

27. Best Diaspora Film – Born This Way

28. Best Lighting Technician – Gregory Kiwo

29. Best East African Film – Breaking With Customs

30. Best Local Content Station – K24 TV

31. Best Production Designer – Emmanuel Mrabu