‘Docubox’ Screens Documentaries At Michael Joseph Center

The Michael Joseph Center was taken over by wonderful films and filmmakers on Sunday 27th July. The event dubbed, ‘Docubox Open Day’ was abuzz with creative energy. Docubox is a East African documentary film fund as well as an organizer of monthly documentary screenings.

The trailers of 12 creative East African documentary films were featured at the open day. The films are an eclectic mix with a variety of themes explored. ‘Woman of the Wind’ by Maia von Lekow & Chris King on the forgotten legacy of Mekatilili wa Menza, ‘The Donkey that Carried the Cloud On its Back’ by Philippa Ndisi-Herrmann on the effects of the Lamu port on the people of Lamu’, ‘Usista’ by Zippy Kimundu on a woman’s musical journey inspired by Bi Kidude and ‘Al Shaabab Captive’ by Sheila Mulinya on a man’s journey to rebuilding his life after a harrowing experience as an Al Shaabab captive are my personal favourites.

The screenings were not only of the trailers of these wonderful East African documentaries, but also of films from around the world. Two South African award-winning documentary films were screened. The first was ‘Miners Shot Down‘ by Rehad Desai, a human rights film on the Marikana miners’ massacre, that has won among others the prestigious Camera Justitia Award at the Movies that Matter Festival in The Hague, the Václav Havel Jury Award at the international human rights documentary film festival, One World, in Prague, the Amnesty International (Durban) Human Rights Award and the Best South African Documentary at the recently concluded Durban International Film Festival. The second film was I, Afrikaner by Annalet “Makkie” Steenkamp, a heart-wrenching portrayal of four generations of her family of Afrikaner farmers. The film won Annalet the Best Direction In A South African Documentary at this year’s Durban International Film Festival.

The closing session comprised screenings of two short documentaries ‘Tengo Talento’ that showcased the next generation of Cuban talent in dance and hip-hop by visiting Director, Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi. It was a colourful ending to an already amazing event.

Six of the twelve East African documentaries whose trailers were screened at the Open Day have received further funding to continue work on their films. Here is to hoping that the films will be done in the next year or so and be screened in Kenya.

The interest in creative documentaries in Kenya is growing both from filmmakers as well as the audience. If you haven’t experienced the wonder of a great creative documentary, mark your calendar for a screening of Mads Brugger’s ‘The Ambassador’ on 29th  August 2014 from 6:30 pm at the Shalom House off Ngong Road.