Pitching Competition
Call for Submission
2021 Edition
This Competition is only open to Kenyan Citizens. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age and registered as delegates for Kalasha International TV and Film Market 2021 as of the Submission Deadline.
Winners authorize the Kenya Film Commission (KFC) to reproduce, distribute, display and create derivative works of the content entry in connection with Kalasha, in any media now or hereafter known, including but not limited to: catalogue publication in showcasing the winners; on Kalasha website; and in exhibits and promotions related to Kalasha.
KALASHA MARKET PITCHING COMPETITION JURY 2021
NICE GITHINJI
Nice Githinji began her career as a stage actress, first appearing on the Phoenix Player’s stage in Richard Stockwell’s “Bad Blood”. Following a stellar performance in that show, Nice has evolved into one of the industry’s most active voices and has carved herself a niche as a performer who never leaves her audiences wanting.
Nice’s versatile portfolio shows her playing roles that range from Mary-Magdalene in the acclaimed musical Jesus Christ Superstar to Rizzo in Grease the Musical. She is active on the Kenyan scene as an actor, content creator, vocalist, emcee and TV host, with a list of credits that include Nganya, which she co-created for Iflix, William Shakespeare’s “Merry Wives of Windsor”, Subira, Rafiki, Lost in Africa and Country Queen.
Nice also runs an initiative dubbed JiNice Visafe where she mentors and trains upcoming performers in theatre and screen acting.
All the projects Nice has been on have aired internationally, have won numerous awards and received rave reviews from critics.
With 13 awards and nominations under her belt, Nice is one of Kenya’s most driven artists, striving to make the industry bigger and brighter. Nice is a force to be reckoned with…a voice that cannot be stopped…an expert performer and a consummate professional
JAMES KANJA
James Kanja is a producer and director who specialize in TV Commercials, episodic TV Series and Films. He is currently the executive producer/director at Black Magic Films Ltd. Amongst his award-winning works include The XYZ show as the founding director for the TV series, “Pamela” short film (Lola Kenya Screen Best Childrens Film) and recently, a Kenya schedule line producer on the Netflix critically acclaimed series “Sacred Games 2”. He believes in telling transformative stories and having fun while at it. He is a certified rugbyholics who love the outdoors, off-roading and watching his son destroy stuff
SERAH MWIHAKI
Serah Mwihaki is the multiple award-winning writers of Nairobi Half Life which was not only Kenya’s entry to the Oscars but was shown in more than 100 theatres in the US and around the world. The film has been touted as the most successful film to come to Kenya.
Through a career spanning nearly two decades; Serah Mwihaki has created and written nearly 70 episodes of the highly acclaimed drama series” Changes” and nearly 600 episodes of Telenovellas- Kona and Selina.
With her company Wordypix Company Ltd she has written and produced “Kidnapped” an award-winning film on the correlation between domestic abuse and mental issues. She has written several TV movies for Africa Magic. Serah is currently writing an anthology film with an American Company.
DENNIS MBUTHIA
Dennis Mbuthia is a game designer and animator at Adala Studios Ltd. He has 9 years industry experience and has worked on 15+ motion graphic campaigns, 4 2D animated short films and 1 board game. He is the current Treasurer of Association of Animation Artistes Kenya, 1st Runner up in an AR/VR Competition and one of 3 finalists at the Chezo Gaming Hackathon.
Dennis has a passion for animation projects and games that bring innate joy and learning to the everyday lives of his customers and clients. He has taught for the 7 years at ADMI and at Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC). He hopes to inspire the artists in his class to be the best they can be and impact the world with their individual skill set.
Dennis is a graduate of Jomo Kenyatta University, Harvard Law School’s CopyrightX program and Homeboyz Animation School. He seats in the OSCAR Selection Committee Kenya since 2017 representing the Kenyan animation industry and volunteers at Destiny Chapel as an Animator and Graphic Designer.
Learning and teaching are his key passions and is willing to share his knowledge and expertise to all who will listen.
WYCLIFFE PHILIP BUHERE
Wycliffe Philip Buhere holds A Bachelor of Arts Degree in Design 1993 (UoN), Postgraduate Film Production and Directing 1996 (KIMC) and currently working on Masters project on Theatre Arts and Film Technology (KU).
Buhere is currently a Principal Film Lecturer training at Kenya Institute of Mass Communication where he doubles as Industrial Liaison Officer. He is the organizing Secretary of Association of Film Producing Educational Institutions- Kenya that is a trustee of Ministry of Education – Kenya.
Buhere is a prolific screen actor, Television programmes content developer and presenter. He has overseen productions of over 300 Documentaries and Feature films both as Film trainer and consultant.
He is overall in charge as regional chairman for Nairobi Tertiary Educational Institutions on matters of Film Producing and Theatre Arts.
ALBERT WANDAGO
Albert Wandago is a veteran filmmaker with more than 30 years’ experience in the business. During those many years he has produced about 100 films of different genres including documentaries, short dramas/comedies, advertorials, short and long feature films.
Some of his productions have been screened in film festivals in Kenya and abroad. He has also taught film as staff of Kenya Institute of Mass Communication and in various universities as consultant lecturer apart from being jury in drama and film festivals.
Wandago is a Theatre Arts graduate of Nairobi University and holds a Diploma in Film Production from KIMC.
IRENE MURUGI RUIRU
Irene Murugi Ruiru is an experienced film and television actress and consultant as well as a renowned Radio Voice over Artist with a career that has spanned over 25 years. She has featured in both local and international film, television and radio shows. She is an experienced Producer as well as the founding Director of Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK), a Collective Management Organization that is licensed to collect royalties on behalf of Performance in Kenya. She is currently the Chairperson of Kenya Actors Guild
KEZIAH GITHINJI
Keziah Wangui Githinji A passionate lover of Film, Animation and Theatre, who is pursuing a Doctorate in Film Studies and a Film Lecturer. A Film Scholar who aims at making films that deal with societal issues and offer solutions. She is a mentor; film trainer and she will be a speaker in the upcoming TED x talk in Nairobi. Her passion is equipping young minds with the ability to tell stories through Film and collaborating with other filmmakers to make films. Her dream is to see African stories being told by Kenyan Filmmakers
JOHN KARANJA
John Karanja is a leading consultant at Nderi film village and the CEO of EFWE association. He is also the Executive producer/ CEO and maker of film at Magic Galaxy Ltd and Jeeba communication. He has worked as a Content manufacturer, Film and TV production mentor and instructor. An alumnus of Kenya Institute of Mass Communication, Mr. Karanja has served in the industry of film and TV for the past 23 years.
ISABELLA MAINA
Isabella Maina is the lead video content producer at Dive Productions with a focus on Documentaries, Feature Films and Video Digital Content. Among her works include Compassion for the disabled a documentary story on the mentally and physically challenged children living the slums. This project caught the attention of content buyers during the Discop Film Market 2012, Transformed to Transform and feature films such as The Price of a Daughter and Behind Closed Doors. She is currently the chairperson of Kenya National Film Association
DAVID ALEX WANGANJU
David Alex Wanganju is a self-taught motion designer and animator with over 10-years professional experience in various applications of animation, from events and TV to agency and news with brands like Safaricom, Airtel, Sauti Sol, Coke, Govt of Kenya and various companies small and big to develop motion graphics animations for presentations, advertising and entertainment. He also runs Ideas to Creations, a platform for artists to get professional feedback and tutorials.
BENJAMIN MWENDIA WAITHAKA
Benjamin Mwendia Waithaka is a 3D Generalist and one of the best Mentors of upcoming animators in the Kenyan industry and the region. Having been in the animation industry for over 15 years, Benjamin is an Autodesk Certified Professional and he is the co-founder of the Award-winning Bluesplynes Studio Kenya. With the spirit of building and seeing the animation industry grow in Kenya, Benja as many calls him has in the past lectured at Shang Tao Media Arts College and is currently a 3D Instructor at the Africa Digital Media Institute (ADMI) and Talanta Institute. Under his Studio label Bluesplyne Studios, Benjamin has won different accolades including Entrepreneur of the year 2014, Citi micro-entrepreneurship award and by Recognized as a finalist of the Kenya ICT Rising Star Award. For Benjamin, it’s the constant improvement and learning to approach the new challenging task with a positive mind that keeps him going and he is grateful for everyone he has managed to help in the animation industry in one way or another.
FRED MAKORI
Fred Makori is a film enthusiast with over 11 years of experience in the media industry as a Scriptwriter, Graphic Designer, TV Producer and Director, TV Concept Developer, Production Coordinator and Editorial Researcher for documentaries, advertisements, Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and films.
Fred has worked for Nation Media Group, Media Development in Africa (MEDEVA), Radio Africa Group, Uungwana Initiative and Docubox. Currently, he is the Head of Production at Kenya’s first 24-hour Business Channel – Metropol TV.
He has produced and directed short films comprising: Lockdown, Solid Rock and Linda among others. He is currently working on his debut feature film to be shot in 2021.
Fred has served as a member of the Kenya Oscar Selection Committee which views and judges’ entries from all over Kenya to select the country’s representative in the Oscar Academy Awards. He has also served as the Vice Chairman of the Kenya National Film Association (KNFA).
Fred holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Graphic Design with professional training in Film and TV production. As a film critic, he helps filmmakers in Kenya and the region make quality films for Cinema and TV. He believes that film is life and through it, we tell our stories and hand down values and culture to generations after us, thus shaping perception.
MISHAEL MOSE NYANGAU
Mishael Mose Nyangau is a Communication and Media Studies Teacher/Lecturer at Nairobi Primary School and Kenya Methodist University. He has worked as a film Producer, Director, Scriptwriter and Actor as well as an Adjudicator at Kenya Drama and Film Festivals.
He holds a Master Degree in Communication Studies from University of Nairobi’s School of Journalism and a Bachelor Degree in Education (English Linguistics Major and Literature) from the same institution. He is currently a PhD Candidate at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) pursuing Communication and Media Studies.
Mishael is a Committee Member of Association of Film Producing Educational Institutions in Kenya (AFPEIK).
PETER MARTIN IKUMILU
Peter Martin Ikumilu is currently the Acting Assistant Director in charge of Multi Media Content Regulation in the Multi Media Service Department of the Authority in Kenya. He has served for twenty years in different capacities with the converged ICT Regulator.
He is a Commonwealth Research Fellow with a Master’s degree in Business Administration majoring in Strategic Management (Moi University) and a Master’s Degree in Communications (Buck New University-UK). He also holds a Bachelor of Technology (honours) degree in Electrical and Communications Engineering from Moi University
Victor Ouma
Victor Ouma is a Film maker, experienced photographer and videographer. Having worked for the Department of Film Services for over eight years, I have filmed documentaries for Private Companies, Government Ministries and Parastatals. These programs focused on social, economic and political issues that aim to inform the citizenry through audio visual.
Based on his vast experience in documentary production, Victor was deployed to head the Cinematography section in Kenya Film School in the year 2016. He has nurtured over 100 students in the School majority have made strides in the media Industry.
Victor is a visionary film maker who likes what he does best (Director of Photography).
Monica Juma
Monica Juma is a Television Programmes who works for the Public broadcaster Kenya Broadcasting Corporation KBC Channel 1 as a programmes officer. Her duties include Acquisition of local and international content and scheduling.
She is a holder of Bachelor’s degree in Communication a journey she started off at Kenya Institute of Mass communication KIMC studying TV production techniques.
An Alumni of Poynter Institute for media studies in Florida United States of America Monica is a movie buff and watches movies as well as listening to music. Monica is a member of International Association of women in Radio and Television IAWRT and advocates for every person to get mentorship in their field of professionalism for it has been of great help in her career.
A Christian Monica believes her faith has helped her in all ways of her life.
Eston Munyi
Eston Munyi studied Film Production at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication in the mid seven ties. He was taught by the highly qualified German Film Lecturers. He later left for advanced Film studies at the prestigious Kodak Education Marketing Centre in the United Kingdom at Hemel Hempstead. He further pursued Advanced film techniques at ARRI in Germany. On Coming home, he taught Film Production at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication and finally took over the Headship of the KIMC, Film production Training Department as its Chairman. Mr. Munyi has had extensive contribution in Film making
He has been the production manager of several films, among them Saikati,Saikati Enkabaan, If women counted, The battle of the sacred tree. On the international circles he has been a member of jury in Kenya, Ghana, Italy, Israel the list is long. He has been a film Consultant with Pan African Federation of Film makers, he was a member of CILECT and the contact person in Eastern Africa. Mr. Munyi was one of the technical team members during the establishment of the Kenya Film Commission and Kalasha Film and Television Festival. He has participated at the film market in Burkina Faso under the auspices of the African Secretariat. Mr. Munyi has been an adjunct Film Lecturer at the Multimedia University and at the Kenyatta University. Additionally, he was requested by the FEPACI Secretariat to join the Film migration and Archives Board. He therefore brings great synergy and wealth of experience to the Kalasha Film and Television Market.