The Kenya Film Commission in partnership with the Kalasha International Film and TV awards unveiled this year’s nominees on Wednesday, March 25.
The unveiling ceremony held at the Panari Hotel marks the beginning of the 14th edition of the Kalasha International Film & TV Market, Festival and Awards, scheduled for April 28 to May 2, 2026, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
Speaking during the ceremony, Kenya Film Commission CEO Tiothy Owase said storytelling was vital to the economy.
“The business of storytelling serves as a vital engine for the broader economy, stimulating growth across tourism, hospitality, transport, and digital services. According to the FISA Report, the film and broadcasting sector contributed an average of 0.4 per cent to Kenya’s GDP between 2016 and 2022, proving that the creative industry is a foundational pillar of national prosperity,” said Owase.
Among the films that received the most nominations was “Owadwa”, leading with 14 nominations, followed by “Sukari” with 13 nominations and “The Dog” with ten.
See the full list of nominees below:
Best Feature Film
Nawi – Brizan Were
The Dog – Appie Matere
Sketchy Africans – Vincent Mbaya & Sally Nyoike
Safari – Reuben Odanga
S.he Gets Me – Millicent Ogutu
Best Short Film
Sukari – June Wairegi
Owadwa – Celine Onditi
Kanairo – Clementina Kabutha
Transaction – Wanjeri Gakuru
Ajeni – Louise Kamwangi
Best Lead Actor in a Film
Juma Mdoe – Sukari
Brian Furaha – Owadwa
Joe Kinyua – S.he Gets Me
Jeff Omondi – Kanairo
Alexander Karim – The Dog
Bruce Makau – 2 Asunder
Elsaphan Njora – Transaction
Best Lead Actress in a Film
Mumtaz Dhulfiqar – Sukari
Michelle Lemuya – Nawi
Gachiki Gachiki – Transaction
Nyokabi Macharia – Sketchy Africans
Shandra Apondi– Memory of Princess Mumbi
Angela Mwandanda – S.he Gets Me
Beatrice Kamuyu– Owadwa
Best Supporting Actor in a Film
Jave Samson – Sukari
Derrick Agwingi – Owadwa
Morris Mwangi – Sketchy Africans
Kevin “K1” Maina – 2 Asunder
Blessing Lung’aho – Ajeni
Fish Chege – Transaction
Best Supporting Actress in a Film
Ivy Collette – Owadwa
Sanaipei Tande – 2 Asunder
Brenda Michelle – Makosa Ni Yangu
Kui Kabana – Bella Is Dying Maybe Next Week
Caroline Midimo – The Dog
Michelle Tiren– Nawi
Best Kenyan Indigenous Film
Sarah – Sarah Tenoi, Nick Reding, Amos Leuka
Wamait ha – Kang’ethe Mungai Ngone
Mwaitu – Jackline Emali & Alfred Munyua
Matatu Master – Anton Konkin
Best Documentary
The People Shall – Mark Maina
Letters to Dad – Fred Makori
Unyangoni – Saitabao Kaiyare
Beyond Boundaries – Kafiyo Osman
Best Original Screenplay
Sukari – June Wairegi & Omar Hamza
Transaction – Wanjeri Gakuru
Owadwa – Shandra Apondi
Kanairo – Clementina Kabutha & Cecimercy Wanza
S.he Gets Me – Brian Munene Ngone
Mwaitu – Jackline Emali
Memory of Princess Mumbi – Damien Hauser
Sketchy Africans – Veronika Kotengo
Nawi – Milcah Cherotich
Best Director
Omar Hamza (Sukari),
Mark Maina (The People Shall), S
handra Apondi (Owadwa),
Toby Schmutzler et al. (Nawi),
Wanjeri Gakuru (Transaction),
Cecimercy Wanza (Kanairo),
Baker Karim (The Dog),
Damien Hauser (Memory of Princess Mumbi)
Best Sound Designer
Sukari – Omar Hamza
The People Shall – Seam P.
Kanairo – Daniel ‘Clue’ Aten’g
Sarah – Teddy Priest Ochieng’
Nawi – Roman Pogorzelski
Owadwa – Michael ‘Cap’ Chepkwony
Best Film Score
Sukari – Frank Matovu
Memory of Princess Mumbi – Damien Hauser
Nawi – Dear Future Me – Amadeus Indetzki & Apuu Mourine
Owadwa – Billy Black
Kanairo – Mbinu Mbili
Wamait ha – Muringi Matheri
Best Editor
Sukari – Omar Hamza
The People Shall – Mark Maina
Nawi – Dear Future Me – Toby Schmutzler
Owadwa – Jibril Drake
Memories of Princess Mumbi – Damien Hauser
Best Visual Effects
Memories of Princess Mumbi – Damien Hauser
The Last Message – David Wachira
2 Asunder – Grace Murema
Nawi – Dear Future Me – Not stated
Bus 338 – Chol Jurkuch
Best Gaffer
The Dog – Walter Odhiambo
Nawi – Dear Future Me – Ludwig Schulz & Tobias Njoga
The People Shall – Gregory Kiwo Maole
Owadwa – Joe Kiarie
Ajeni – Shavin
Best Costume Designer
Nawi – Viva Njeri
Owadwa – Shandra Apondi
Sukari – Eunice Rimba
Cards on the Table – Vivian Nnjeri
Kimotho The Dog – Sophie Oprisanu
Best Makeup Artist
Sukari – Mwanarusi Mwasina
Owadwa – Viona Ndiritu
The Dog – James Gikonyo
Makosa Ni Yangu – Stacey Gichinju
2 Asunder – John “Suki” Michuki Kibunguri
Nawi – Mercy Ng’endo
Best Production Designer
Nawi – Erikson Kang’ethe
Sukari – Mwafrika Hamisi
The Dog – George Mungai
The People Shall – Bakhitta Gikonyo
Makosa Ni Yangu – Not stated
Memory of Princess Mumbi – Damien Hauser
Safari – Harrison “Tish” Mutinda
Best Director
Sukari – Omar Hamza
The People Shall – Mark Maina
Owadwa – Shandra Apondi
Nawi – Toby Schmutzler; Kevin Schmutzler; Vallentine Chelluget; Apuu Mourine Transaction – Wanjeri Gakuru
Kanairo – Cecimercy Wanza
The Dog – Baker Karim
Memory of Princess Mumbi – Damien Hauser
Best Animation
Lore – Mary Wanjiku
The Big Sad Nairobi – Gift Kyansimire
Kito and Chacha: The Leader – Ebby Productions
Best TV Drama
Kash Money – Grace Kahaki
MTV Shuga Mashariki – Kevin Njue
Big Girl Small World – Nicholas Munene Mutuma
Single Kiasi – Grace Kahaki
Prefects – June Ndinya Aaqib
Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama
Amara Tari – Kash Money
Julie Brenda – MTV Shuga Mashariki
Nice Githinji – Subterranea
Jane Wambui – Njoro Wa Uba
Diana Njuguna – Big Girl Small World
Ciku Kaboi – The Chocolate Empire
Best Lead Actor in a TV Drama
John Sibi Okumu – Kash Money
Emmanuel Mugo – Big Girl Small World
Basil Mungai – MTV Shuga Mashariki
Jimmy Gathu – The Chocolate Empire
Melvin Alusa – Subterranea
Kelvin Maina – Single Kiasi
Joe Kinyua – Njoro Wa Uba
Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama
June Njenga – Big Girl Small World
Mwende Kingori – Paa
Sanaipei Tande– Kash Money
Hellen Keli – Lazizi
Foi Wambui – Subterranea
Serah Wanjiru– MTV Shuga Mashariki
Minnie Kariuki– Single Kiasi
Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama
Lenana Kariba-Njagi – Kash Money
Dennis Mugo – Big Girl Small World
Mathew Ngugi-Erick – MTV Shuga Mashariki
Jack Mutinda-Solomon Katitu – Mizani
Biko Nyongesa-Brown – Subterranea
Best TV Scriptwriter
Big Girl Small World – Angela Ruhinda
Kash Money – Grace Kahaki & Philippe Bresson
Paa – Bruno Tanya
Subterranea – Likarion Wainana, Brian Munene, Arnold Mwanjila and Martin Kigondu
Single Kiasi – Season 4 – Carol Kemunto, Jazmine Maina, Grace Adhiambo & Jim Malakwen
MTV Shuga Mashariki – Annette Shadeya
Best TV Director
Kash Money – Grace Kahaki & Philippe Bresson
Big Girl Small World – Nick Mutuma
Subterranea – Likarion Wainaina
MTV Shuga Mashariki – Likarion Wainaina, Mkaiwawi Mwakaba & June Ndinya Aaqib Paa – Carol Odongo
Single Kiasi – Season 4 – Grace Kahaki & Philippe Bresson
The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki & Philippe Bresson
Lazizi – June Ndinya Aaqib, Vincent Mbaya and Davis Nato
Mo-Faya – Reuben Odanga
Best Student Film
Dinner for Three – Brian Kabogozza & Sihnemariam Abebe (Multichoice Talent Factory) Dumpside Guardian – Kadii Lucy (Kenya Institute of Mass Communication)
Ifikie Governor – Seda Nigel (Film Fupi Academy)
Spin to Loose – Kevin Karanja Makono (Dedan Kimathi University of Technology)
Own Goal – Kerry Awiti (Kenyatta University)
Best Documentary by a Student
Deafenately Heard – Samuel Ochieng (Kenya Institute of Mass Communication)
The Inkidongi – Muthoni R. Gathigia (Kenya Film School)
People’s Choice Award – Feature Film
Nawi – Brizan Were
The Dog – Appie Matere
Sketchy Africans – Vincent Mbaya & Sally Nyoike
Safari – Reuben Odanga
S.he Gets Me – Millicent Ogutu, Brian Munene, Likarion Wainaina, Bruce Makau Makosa Ni Yangu – Denise Kibisu-Ngibuini
2 Asunder – Fakii Liwali, Betty M. Mutua
Cards on the Table – Shirleen Wangari
Boda Love – Janet Wells, Nina Ruiz
Family Vacation – Sarah Hassan
People’s Choice Award – TV Drama
Kash Money – Grace Kahaki
MTV Shuga Mashariki – Kevin Njue
Big Girl Small World – Nicholas Munene Mutuma
Single Kiasi – Grace Kahaki
Prefects – June Ndinya Aaqib
Subterranea – Brian Munene
Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki
Paa – Audrey Tanta
Adam to Eve – Alexandors Konstantaras
Mo-Faya – Reuben Odanga