Refugee filmmakers were awarded laptops and cameras as motivation to continue telling stories of life within the Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps.
A gala event which took place on September 28 at the Tribe Hotel, Nairobi saw the culmination of the 11th edition of the annual FilmAid festival. A three week long screening event had seen FilmAid media trainees from Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camp showcase their films which centered on life at the refugee camps.
Out of a total 1,500 film submissions at this year’s festival, 15 were selected for screening at the camps and in Nairobi.
Speaking during the gala, FilmAid Executive Director Keefe Mureen said, “We were thrilled with the submissions we got this year, the numbers improved significantly and this shows our commitment and vision of informing, inspiring and empowering refugees and marginalized populations is bearing fruit”.
The theme for this year’s theme festival was “My story My voice Your move” in a move termed by the organisers as a non-confrontational demand for dialogue. The theme also sought to promote a self-confident assertion that refugee voices be included in any dialogue about their lives and their future.
The media trainees also engaged in panel discussions with various stakeholders in the film industry and humanitarian organisations.
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In attendance included FilmAid International Executive Director Keefe Mureen, FilmAid Kenya Country Director Stella Suge, Representative of the United Nations Refugee Agency in Kenya Raouf Mazou, Regional Spokesperson and Communications Office UNHCR Dana Hughes.
Some of the winners from this year’s festival included-
Best Actor
Ali Farah Mohamud – The Discriminator
Best Actress
Jackline Ikuju – Why Me
Best Student Fiction Film
Why Me
Best Student Non-Fiction Film
The Other Dadaab
Best Sound
Aden Abdullahi Abdi – The Other Dadaab
Best Script
Gang Nyabuol Biel – Defying all Odds
Best Cinematography
Maryan Dahir Adawe – Defying All Odds
Best Editing
Makol Beer- Struggle for Family
Best Director
Rey Egide Bulambo – Why Me
Best International Fiction Film
Are You Volleybal
Best International Non- Fiction Film
You Can’t Hide From the Truth
Best International Emerging Film Maker
Amina Rwimo – It has Killed My Mother
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