Manyatta Mengi Mashariki: E.Africa Short Film Programme

INTRODUCTION

Manyatta Mengi Mashariki is a short film program spotlighting exciting new voices from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Reunion Island. This showcase was curated by Hawa Essuman and Fibby Kioria of Manyatta Screenings and Wanjeri Gakuru of Mengi Mengi Film Club from Kenya. This screening is part of the 2025 UK-Kenya Season of Culture, a bilateral cultural exchange celebrating creativity, innovation, and digital engagement presented by The Africa Centre and the British Council.

The Manyatta Mengi Mashariki showcase offers fresh perspectives on the human condition across the genres of comedy, action and drama. The selected films approach the questions of identity, desire and mortality with warmth, bravery and fascinating interiority. They shall be presented in two screening blocks with an intermission, and followed by a conversation with a member of the curating team.

“This showcase provides a snapshot of the current voices of the makers and watchers emerging in Eastern African cinema. As members and champions of this ecosystem we’re incredibly pleased and proud to present the topics and visual language representative of the region. It's been a joy to create and can’t wait to share it with UK audiences.” - Manyatta Mengi Mashariki team

The first set includes Rolex (2020) Dir. Benon Mugumbya (Uganda), Scalp Deep (2020) Dir. Naseeba Bagalaaliwo (Uganda), Love & Brain (2020) Dir. Semagngeta Aychiluhem (Ethiopia) and Stero (2022) Dir. Tevin Kimathi & Millan Tarus (Kenya). The second set consists of Transaction (2025) Dir. Wanjeri Gakuru (Kenya), An Ode To The Time I Loved Bread (2021) Dir. Neema Ngelime (Tanzania) and Set Lam Dir. Vincent Fontano (Reunion Island).

CURATORIAL TEAM

Hawa Essuman is a filmmaker, writer, director and sometimes producer of films who originally directed theatre and television drama. She now has a track record of over a decade of successful filmmaking.

Fibby Kioria is a film producer, cultural curator, and entrepreneur. She spearheads transformative initiatives to elevate African cinema through film training labs and film residencies, film production and film showcase and nurtures talent while promoting global collaboration.

Wanjeri Gakuru is a journalist, essayist, curator and working filmmaker. She is a leading voice in the local and international arts & culture space.

SCREENING PROGRAMME

SECTION 1

1. ROLEX

Benon Mugumbya | 15:00 Min | Action | 2020 | UG | 16+
Trailer
Synopsis: Four men are up for a life-changing deal, but they must each overcome one common deadly obstacle, or lose everything.

Director’s Bio:
Benon Mugumbya began performing at a young age and rose to fame as one half of the musical duo Benon & Vamposs, with hits like “Nsazewo” and “Mpenzi We.” Their success led to international performances and collaborations. Inspired to produce, Benon trained under mentors at GoodEnuff Studios before joining Fenon Records in 2006. In 2008, he founded Swangz Avenue, shaping Uganda’s modern sound and producing for top artists like Radio & Weasle, Juliana, and Bebe Cool. His production excellence earned him multiple accolades, including Producer of the Year at the 2010 PAM Awards. In 2020, he wrote and directed his first short film, Rolex, marking a new chapter in his creative journey as a filmmaker.

2. SCALP DEEP

Naseeba Bagalaaliwo | 7:00 Min | Drama | 2020 | UG | U

Trailer

Synopsis: Hair and constructions of identity are often deeply intertwined. Exploring the intersections of African hair, femininity and personal identity, “Scalp Deep” examines a young African woman's journey as she braves the reactions and expectations of society after she decides to commit to a “drastic” new look.

Director’s Bio:

Naseeba Bagalaaliwo is an award-winning Ugandan producer, writer, and director. With a background in Law and Politics from Durham University (UK) and an MFA from the University of Southern California's Peter Stark Producing Program, Naseeba brings a nuanced, global perspective to every project, championing marginalised voices both behind and in front of the camera. Inspired by art, politics, and the rich tapestry of global cultures, Naseeba is dedicated to inclusive storytelling and to filling her crews with women of colour and focusing on stories that celebrate resilience, identity, and the transformative power of community. She is currently developing her first animated feature film.

3. LOVE & BRAIN

Semagngeta Aychiluhem | 4:00 Min | Comedy | 2020 | ET | PG

Synopsis: In a post-apocalyptic world, a hungry zombie is running for his life after a human scientist discovers the benefits of eating a zombie's brain.

Director’s Bio:

Semagngeta Aychiluhem, an award-winning writer, director, and former mechanical and aircraft engineer, founded Guzo Films to bring Ethiopian and African stories to global audiences. Known for the Pan-African award-winning TV series, Lijes, he also leads Bridge-House, an initiative dedicated to training and empowering aspiring Ethiopian filmmakers to create with limited resources; a mission inspired by his journey.

4. STERO

Tevin Kimathi & Millan Tarus | 13:00 Min | Action Drama | 2022 | KE | 16+

Trailer

Synopsis: Speaking Kiswahili on the school grounds is against the language policy. For Bruce Koech, the repressive Anglo-Western education system clashes with his rebellious spirit. With the heart of a warrior and an imaginary sensei by his side, Bruce attempts to defy this unjust rule by becoming Stero – a badass hero, honoring his true self and wild spirit.

Director’s Bio:

Tevin Kimathi Omwanza is a Kenyan filmmaker known for his dynamic storytelling and directorial versatility. His recent short film, Stero, premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2024, marking a major milestone in his career. Tevin has also directed feature films Kijani and Amandla for MaishaMagic Movies, showcasing his ability to craft compelling narratives for broad audiences. His creative reach extends beyond film into commercial work for top brands like Nivea, Mastercard Foundation, Minute Maid, and Weetabix. Passionate about cinema and community, Tevin served as Kenya’s regional coordinator for the Kaduna International Film Festival in Nigeria in 2020 and 2021, contributing to the growth of African film. With a solid foundation in both artistic and commercial filmmaking, Tevin continues to push the boundaries of visual storytelling in Kenya and beyond.

Millan Tarus is a Kenyan filmmaker with a background in Law from the University of Nairobi and a Master’s degree in International Screenwriting and Production from Cattolica University, Milan. His diverse body of work includes "A 1000 Ways to Miss Home," a video installation created during the 2024 Art Omi residency in New York, and "Stero," a short film that premiered at the 2024 International Film Festival Rotterdam. He also developed Organetto and Purgatorio during the 2023 Cinemadamare Film Festival and created "Now That I Know Things, Where Do I Go from Here?", an immersive audio experience featured on BBC Taster. In 2024, Millan received the Prince Claus Seed Award to support research and development for his debut feature film script, marking a pivotal step in his evolving creative journey.

SECTION 2

5. TRANSACTION

Wanjeri Gakuru | 20:00 Min | Drama | 2025 | KE | 16+

Trailer

Synopsis: On the eve of her 25th birthday, resolved to finally lose her virginity, Waks

embarks on a thrilling escapade to the city. But to really enjoy her birthday gift,

she must confront and shed the religious trauma and shame that have long

burdened her.

Director’s Bio:

Wanjeri Gakuru is a journalist, essayist, curator and filmmaker who has worked in the local and international arts & culture space for over a decade. She is a 2021 Docubox Short Film Grant winner, a 2022 Interfilm Script Pitch finalist and the winner of a 2023 Kosinima Inc Short Film Grant. She has co-written feature films, including Supa Modo (2018), which premiered at the 68th Berlin Film Festival and was selected as the Kenyan entry for the 91st Academy Awards. Transaction (2025) is her international directorial debut.

6. AN ODE TO A TIME I LOVED BREAD

Neema Ngelime | 11:00 Min | Stop Motion | 2021 | TZ | PG

Synopsis: A memory trip capturing the filmmaker’s juvenile sentiments from her time at a colonial legacy boarding school. Revisiting those years, Neema reconstructs her experiences through a collage of memories, laying out the absurd, the silly, and the unforgivable as her present self interrogates the past. Neema reflects on how her time at the boarding school shaped her relationship to food, body, and identity.

Director’s Bio:
Neema Ngelime is a Tanzanian documentary photographer and filmmaker with a focus on everyday life from a feminist and experimental perspective. Fascinated by the mechanical nature of life, she completed the DocNomads MA in Documentary Directing in 2021 as an Erasmus+ scholar. Her work has been showcased at festivals like Oberhausen, IDFA, Beldocs, New York African Film Festival, and London Short Film Festival. A 2023 Berlinale Talent, Neema is currently developing her first feature film with the DW Akademie Film Development Fund.

7. SET LAM

Vincent Fontano | 23:00 Min | Drama | 2023 | RE | PG

Trailer

Synopsis: In an insular city’s ghetto, in the midst of a trance ritual, a young girl is paralysed by fear. She is afraid her loved ones may be hurt or even disappear. It is then that her Grandmother tells her the strange tale of Edwardo, the first one of his kin to have seen and fought death. The child is captivated, feeling that there is a reason her grandmother is recounting this tale.

Director’s Bio:

Vincent Fontano is a Reunionese playwright, actor and a reader of James Baldwin. He has always been interested in filmmaking. In 2019, he directed his first short film, Blaké, produced by We Film. He won the France Televisions prize. In 2021, he directed his second short film, Sèt Lam, produced by Dobro Films and filmed in Reunion Island, his native land. Sèt Lam is selected for best fiction short film at the 2024 César.