Top women in film

In the past, the film industry in Kenya offered few opportunities for women, as men largely held the primary positions of authority, including directing, producing, and screenwriting. In recent years, however, there has been a positive shift, with more and more women stepping into these critical roles.

Female filmmakers like Ng’endo Mukii (a renowned animator and filmmaker) and Wanuri Kahiu (known for films like “Rafiki” and “Pumzi”) have gained both local and international recognition for their work. These women are pioneers, showing that Kenyan women have a unique and valuable perspective in storytelling.

Wanuri Kahiu

Wanuri Kahiu in particular has been a trailblazer. Her film Rafiki gained international attention when it was banned in Kenya for its portrayal of a same-sex relationship, but it also sparked important conversations about censorship, LGBTQ+ rights and creative freedom. Kahiu’s success highlighted how women filmmakers are using film not only for artistic expression but also for social commentary. She has also contributed to several Hollywood projects, including Disney’s Once On This Island.

Michelle Lemuya

Recently, the Kenyan film Nawi received five nominations at the 2024 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), culminating in Michelle Lemuya winning the Best Young/Promising Actor award for her powerful lead performance as a young girl resisting the constraints of child marriage. This prestigious award, which celebrates emerging talent in African cinema, is one of the most important honours at the AMAAs.

Victoria Goro

Ensuring that the conveyor belt never stops churning out capable filmmakers is Victoria Goro. Currently the director of the East Africa Academy MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), Goro has ensured that budding talents in the film industry are nurtured through various programmes.

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During the last edition of the Women in Film Award, she was recognised as the most influential personality in women’s film in its fifth edition. With over three decades of experience in the film industry, Goro has been instrumental in the development of film curricula and the development and implementation of talent-based film training.

Damaris Irungu Ochieng

Her work ranges from television shows to feature films, which have won her accolades not only locally but also internationally. She is an International Emmy Award-winning writer (2012) and has been involved in various film projects including Sopi, Pepeta, Crime and Justice Kina among others.

Women account for up to 40 per cent of those directly employed in the film industry, according to KNBS data.

Denise Ngibuini

Popularly known as Madam Producer in the film industry, Denise is not a new face to many. She started her career on the local TV show Tahidi High and since leaving she has been making films in various capacities.

At Phil-It Production, as a producer, she leads the project and manages the entire production process from concept to execution.

Other roles include client liaison, where she acts as the primary point of contact between the client and the production team, ensuring that the client’s needs and expectations are met throughout the project. At WIFA, she is also a producer and a key figure in this project.

Faith Musembi

An award-winning film producer, director and editor, Faith Musembi’s journey in film has taken her from the glitzy streets of Hollywood to the savannah. Her catalogue includes Edge of Darkness (2010), Tales of the Accidental City (2021) and Chuma (2019), Chasing the Rains (2022).

She was recently cast in National Geographic’s The Queens, an epic four-year journey following the matriarchs of the wild.

“I am currently working on Lion - a series produced by the world-renowned BBC Natural History Unit, commissioned by National Geographic for Disney+. Working in these wild spaces across these varied projects has affirmed my commitment and passion for telling stories about the natural world; and for amplifying the dialogue about the conservation of its finite resources,” she said.

Diana Kayode

An astute independent filmmaker with Kadi Media Limited, Diana has worked in the film industry for over ten years, where she has established herself in video editing, digital visual effects and animation.

“I am also a pre-production & post-production consultant. I have worked on various reality TV shows across Africa as the online editor, producer as well as a production manager for various productions in East Africa.,” she says.

Having worked on Mnet’s Big Brother Africa, her experience sets her apart.

Dr Zippy Okoth

Dr Zippy Okoth is a performing artiste, producer, director, actress and writer who has produced several films and plays. Her latest film, Otis Janam, has won many hearts for its unique execution. It was also nominated for the National Film and TV Awards and although it did not win, it was a statement for a Kenyan film to be nominated for the South African awards. It is a compelling story that delves into the power of love, destiny and second chances. The KCA film lecturer is also the festival director of the LIPFF Film Festival.

Matrid Nyagah

Her current work, Where the River Divides, is doing exceptionally well. After winning Best Editor and Best Cinematographer at the inaugural Mombasa International Film Festival in January 2024, Where The River Divides was crowned the most-watched film by a female producer on MyMovies.Africa at the 5th Women In Film Awards (WIFA) on International Women’s Day 2024. To date, Where The River Divides has received seven festival selections, 26 nominations [including Best Indigenous Language Film from East Africa at the upcoming 10th Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA)] and 12 awards in Kenya and America. This includes being the most awarded film at the 13th KALASHA International Film & Television Awards with five trophies for Best Original Screenplay, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Actor and Best Short Film.

She is co-founder and executive director of Fearless Films Limited and founder of the Dada Trust - a non-profit organisation that supports and celebrates women in the arts. She also runs the Udada International Women’s Film Festival.

Shirleen Wangari

When Act of Love premiered, film critics and film lovers came to the same conclusion. A Kenyan story. This is a film about post-partum depression, maternal health and the mental well-being of Kenyan women. It is the story of Juliana (Mwixx Mutinda), a young mother pushed to the edge by the daily struggles of life in Nairobi. When her support system collapses one day, she must decide whether she can care for her young child (Talia Jasmine). Shirleen, who is also an award-winning actress, produced the film and it has already garnered an astounding 16 festival selections, 23 nominations and 10 awards. Within just five months of its premiere, Act Of Love won Best Lighting, Best Editing and Best Sound Design at the prestigious 13th annual Kalasha International Film and TV Awards in Kenya.

Betty Kathungu Furret

Betty Kathungu Furret is a Kenyan director, film and documentary producer and founder of Furet Films, a film and documentary production company in Kenya. Her work in the film industry includes films and documentaries such as Castle of Love, One Foot Ahead, Unveiling The Colony, Family Meeting, Wangai’s Cross, Medicine Man, Kizingo, Mazagazaga (Mnet), and Magerio. Kizingo, a comic film aired on Showmax, won Best Feature Film and Best Cinematography at the 2017 Riverwood Awards.

Nice Githinji

Nice Githinji is a prominent figure in the film industry. A talented actor, Nice is known for her top performances in All Girls Together (2008), Subira (2018) and Nganya (2018). She is also the co-founder of The Talent Studio, a performing arts school, and Shorts From Africa, a Kenyan collective that brings together artists from different disciplines to create works inspired by Africa and its literature. Her most recent works include These Are the Moments to Die, which she directed and starred in with Nyokabi Macharia. Her latest work on screen is Subterranea on Showmax, Kenya’s first sci-fi series.