Faith Nyasuguta
In just 5 months since its premiere, “ACT OF LOVE” has garnered remarkable success, boasting 16 Festival Selections, 23 Nominations, and 7 Awards. The film has now secured 10 nominations at the 13th annual KALASHA International Film & TV Awards in Kenya, including Best Short Film, Best Director, and Best Lead Actress.
Public voting for the KALASHA awards is open, allowing supporters to cast their votes for the film and its talented cast and crew. Meanwhile, on International Women’s Day, three members from the film, Mwixx Mutinda, Vivian Njeri, and Shirleen Wangari, have received nominations for the 5th Women In Film Awards (WIFA) in Nairobi.
“ACT OF LOVE,” inspired by Shelly Gitonga’s true story, delves into the critical issue of post-partum depression in Kenya and Africa. The film follows Juliana, played by Mwixx Mutinda, a young mother navigating the challenges of motherhood amidst societal pressures and the quest for a livelihood.
Shirleen Wangari, now an award-winning producer at Blackwell Films, emphasizes the film’s significance in addressing maternal mental health challenges, shedding light on the prevailing issues affecting mothers, newborns, families, and communities.
Since its premiere in October 2023, the film has received accolades, including the Nile Grand Prize for Best Short Film at the 13th Luxor African Film Festival in Egypt and Best Short Film at the 1st Mombasa International Film Festival in Kenya. “ACT OF LOVE” has been selected for prestigious film festivals globally, showcasing its impactful narrative.
The film brings awareness to post-partum depression, with Shelly Gitonga highlighting that PPD affects 10-20% of women globally, while the situation is more severe in Africa, impacting 10-32% of women.
Celebrating its achievements, the cast and crew of “ACT OF LOVE” will join the 2nd #WeWatchKenyan Watch Party by MyMovies.Africa™ on March 29, 2024. As the film is made available on MyMovies.Africa™, it is open for licensing to various platforms, expanding its reach and impact.
The team is dedicated to furthering awareness by organizing special screenings for underserved communities of women and healthcare workers. Chloe Genga, Impact Producer at LightBox Africa, expresses openness to collaborations with partners who share their vision for promoting awareness of post-partum depression, maternal health, and mental health.
Produced by Blackwell Films in collaboration with Ripple Productions, “ACT OF LOVE” receives funding from 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. The film stands as a testament to the power of storytelling in addressing crucial societal issues.
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