Would you believe that it has been a decade since Nairobi Half Life, the hit Kenyan film debuted? Neither can we.
The now iconic German-Kenyan production was a collaboration between One Fine Day Films and Ginger Ink Films Africa. Since its 2011 release, the film has screened at over 150 film festivals around the world, won innumerable awards and screened almost an entire year in Kenyan cinemas.
To still celebrate and reflect on the film’s unparalleled success, a day of panels with local and international industry experts, an evening screening of Nairobi Half Life for life, government and inustry VIPs and then an afterparty at The Alchemist.
“Nairobi Hlaf Life is the gift that keeps on giving. It set a precedent for the Kenyan film industry and for me as a director,” Says Gitonga. “Obviously, the film set the bar quite high. I have a coupleof projects I am currently working on leading up to something major that will likely see the light off day next year. It will be called ‘The Nairobians’ and will take somewhat quite of a similar course as Nairobi Half Life. It is a high-budget production so that will cost me a lot of money,” He adds.
Does the Kenyan film industry recycle the same people? “I know that is a stereotype that exists. Look at it this way; a great actor is not made overnight.You have to start from the ground up. As such, I would rather go for the experienced actor for my productions as opposed to a rookie, especially for big roles in high budget productions,” He opines.
