fatuma jillo 
Actors and creators of shows aired on MultiChoice-owned channels, Maisha Magic and Showmax were recognized at this year’s Women in Film Awards held last week in Nairobi.
Now in its 5th edition, Women in Film Awards celebrates women across various categories, including – directors, writers, producers, cinematographers, editors, sound designers, and other professionals working within all facets of film production.
Victoria Goro, Academy Director, MultiChoice Talent Factory was recognized as the most influential personality woman in film while Grace Irungu and Mary Gacheri were feted as the Best Scriptwriter and Best Actresss respectively for their work on Nyakio, My Love. The film narrates the tale of a diligent young labourer in a rural village challenging societal norms as he embarks on a love journey with a wealthy divorcee woman significantly older than him
Lynn Gitau was recognized as the Best Director Student Film for the recently released Somewhere in Kole, produced as part of a collaborative project by teams of MTF students from the class of 2023 during their 12 months of training at the MTF Academy. Somewhere in Kole tells the story of Masanyu, a privileged 20-year-old YouTuber unexpectedly called upon to preside over a ritual in his late father’s village, Kole.
Dora Nyaboke emerged finalist in the Best Actress in a TV Drama category for her role in the Showmax Original telenovela “Second Family while Margaret Wacera was a finalist in the Best Film Producer category for her exceptional work on ‘Chinga’, a captivating narrative airing on Maisha Magic, which follows the journey of a hotelier navigating the challenges of starting anew on their rural farm after losing his job.
Lucy Mwangi, producer of ‘Njoro wa Uber,’ was a finalist in the Best TV Drama Producer category, while Jacqueline Mungai was nominated for Best Film Director for her outstanding direction of “Nyakio, My Love.”
Commenting on the awards, Margaret Mathore, Head of Channels, M-NET East Africa noted: “We are excited that our efforts to advocate for the empowerment of women in the film industry, receiving national recognition, serve as a testament to our commitment to showcasing content produced by the best in the industry while promoting gender inclusivity.”
