Faith Nyasuguta
The film “ACT OF LOVE” has achieved a remarkable feat with 15 festival selections, 9 nominations, and 5 awards within just 13 weeks of its premiere. The film secured the titles of Best Short Film and Best Scriptwriter at the inaugural Mombasa International Film Festival.
To celebrate these victories, the cast and crew are organizing a free screening at The Alchemist in Westlands, Nairobi, on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The event, in collaboration with MyMovies.Africa™, is open for registration with limited seating available.
“ACT OF LOVE,” inspired by the true story of its writer, presents a moving short film set in Nairobi, depicting the life of Juliana (Mwixx Mutinda), a young mother navigating the challenges of seeking a livelihood in a world turned upside down.
The film previously clinched the Best Short Film award at the 9th MASHARIKI African Film Festival in Kigali, Rwanda, and secured the People’s Choice Award at the inaugural Sauti Zetu Film Festival in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Ms. Shelly Gitonga, the award-winning scriptwriter, emphasizes that “ACT OF LOVE” sheds light on the dark side of motherhood, particularly Post-Partum Depression (PPD), which affects 10-20% of women globally.
Statistics reveal that in Africa, PPD impacts 10-32% of women, with a prevalence rate of 11-13% in Kenya. Shirleen Wangari, the award-winning producer at Blackwell Films, notes that PPD can have severe consequences, impairing a mother’s ability to care for her child and leading to conditions like post-partum psychosis, suicide, and infanticide.
In addition to the awards and screenings, “ACT OF LOVE” has been selected for various prestigious film festivals globally, including the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), Swahili International Film Festival & Awards, Fragments Festival, Kugoma Film Forum, Fankeenna Film Festival, Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC) Film Festival, Global Film Exhibition, Botswana International Film Festival, Mombasa International Film Festival, Reel County Film Festival 2024, and Kitale Film Week 2024 in Kenya.
Trushna Buddhdev-Patel, Co-Founder, CEO & Content Director of YAKWETU™, the distributor, expresses pride in the film and highlights its availability on MyMovies.Africa™. The film is also open for licensing to other Video On Demand (VOD) services, television, and non-theatrical opportunities.
Chloe Genga, Impact Producer at LightBox Africa, mentions special screenings for underserved communities, raising awareness about post-partum depression, maternal health, and mental health. The team is open to collaboration with partners sharing the vision of creating positive impact through the film.
“ACT OF LOVE” was produced by Blackwell Films in collaboration with Ripple Productions, funded by Some Fine Day Pix, GIZ, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation & Development of Germany, and DocuBox East Africa Fund, with support from Naomi Mburuh Films, Film Studios, and Jenga Leo.
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