Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Kalasha Awards

There are 9 new categories and you can also vote for your favorite Feature Film and TV Drama, among many more ahead of the 2022 Kalasha Awards

The 12th Edition of the Kalasha Awards 2022 will be held on Saturday, December 3. The Kalasha International Film and TV Awards is an initiative by the Kenya Film Commission aimed at promoting a vibrant film industry, regulated and democratic, to encourage a healthy level of competition among filmmakers.

In 2022, 217 films were submitted in 1,204 categories, an increase from 2021’s 149 films in 706 categories. nine new categories have been included in this year’s edition of the Kalasha Awards.

The new categories are; Best Viewer’s Choice(TV Drama), Best Viewer’s Choice ( Feature), Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama, Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama, Best Regional Film, Best Documentary (Short), Best Documentary (Feature), Best Makeup and Hair Stylist, and Best Costume Designer.

Noting improvements in the film industry, Valentine Kamau, Kenya Actors Guild and Chairperson of the 2022 Awards Nominations said: “Some films are doing very well in structure and great storytelling. There is the use of good storytelling tools like flashbacks, the story in a story, comedy, poetic irony, use of music, and monologues.”

Actors Blessing Lung’aho(Country Queen) and Sanaipei Tande (Tandala Kina), as well as Scriptwriter and Producer, Abel Mutua are some of the big names in the Nominations.

Celebrated TV Personality, Betty Kyallo’s 13-episode Reality Series, Kyallo Kulture, was one of 23 Showmax Originals and exclusives that have been nominated at the Kalasha Awards 2022.

Showmax Content Specialist in East Africa, Denise Mwende, expressed optimism about the nominations stating, “These 23 nominations are an acknowledgement of the calibre of local content that Showmax continues to put out there. It’s the kind of content that continues to set the bar high, both in storytelling and in offering variety to our subscribers. It’s been a great journey, and we are proud of all our Kalasha nominees at Showmax for their contribution to pushing the industry to the highest standards.”

Kenya Film Commission CEO Timothy Owase announced that the newly included Viewer’s Choice categories will be contested through a public vote.

KFC has partnered with StarTimes ON, an online mobile application that will host the official voting platform.

Mental health awareness, domestic violence, elections, substance and drug abuse, and violence, have been noted as constant themes in Films nominated at the Kalasha Awards 2022.

Here is the full list of the 12th edition of Kalasha International Film and TV Awards nominees;

Best Lead Actor in a Film

1. Morris Mwangi- Kony Kiwo (Baba Twins)
2. Elyas Muhamud-Assad (Gacal)
3. Basil Mungai-Kev (Click Click Bang)
4. Barkhad Abdi- Ayaanle (Ayaanle)
5. Tim King’oo- Koome (Last Supper)

Best Lead Actress in a Film

1. Violetta Ngina- Wamz (Baba Twins)
2. Nyokabi Macharia- Wendo (Chaguo)
3. Mwanatunu Imam- Mandia (Jaramandia)
4. Marianne Nungo- Mama Koome (Last Supper)
5. Joyce Musoke- Wlizabeth (Wise Woman)

Best Lead Actor in a TV Drama

1. Peter Kawa- Malik Maka (County 49)
2. Alfred Munyua- Silas (Crime And Justice) 
3. Joe Kinyua- Njoro (Njoro Wa Uba)
4. Melvin Alusa- Kyalo (Country Queen)
5. Jimmy Gathu-Fred Tandala (Kina)

Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama

1. Gathoni Mutua-Sintamei (Single Kiasi)
2. Aisha Mwajumlah-Nimimi (Pete)
3. Ivy Wanjiku-Sanura (Sanura)
4. Melissa Kiplagat-Akisa (Country Queen)
5. Sanaipei Tande-Nana (Tandala Kina)

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Best TV Show

1. Date My Family (Kenya Newton Ngugi)
2. Kyallo Kulture (Eugene Mbugua)
3. Best Of (Eugene Mbugua)
4. This Love (Eugene Mbugua)
5. Foods Of Kenya (Eugene Mbugua)

Best TV Drama

1. Country Queen-Peter Obrist
2. Kina-Appie Matere
3. Crime & Justice Season 2-Adam Neutzsky-Wulff
4. County 49-Brian Munene Gitahi
5. Pete-Daudi Anguka

Best TV Comedy

1. Roast House (Eugene Mbugua)
2. Too Much Information With Ty (Tmi) (Roselidah Taabu)
3. Varshita (Lucy Mwangi)

Best Supporting Actor in a Film

1. Sammy Ukavi-Gicovi (Medicineman)
2. Ian Nyakundi-Kasisi (Click Click Bang)
3. Brian Ogola-Kowa (Chaguo)
4. Andrew Muthure-Muga (Bargain bride)
5. Zubeir Mohammed-Barkhad (Gacal)

Best Supporting Actress in a Film

1. Amina Moha- Amina (Ayaanle)
2. Basro Dahir- Zeinab (Gacal)
3. Sahara Mohammed-Khadija (Zuena)
4. Annstella Karimi-Eva (Baba Twins)
5. Auudi Rowa-Kabi (Chaguo)

Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama

1. James Webbo-Elijah Matata (County 49)
2. Blessing Lung’aho-Max (Country Queen)
3. Moses Kiema-Leftie Mwakazi (Kina)
4. Bryan Kabugi-Titus Karani (Salem)
5. Maqbul Mohammed-Kebo (Crime & Justice)

Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama

1. Foi Wambui-Arielle Mufasa (Salem)
2. Jane Wambui -Jezebel (Njoro Wa Uba)
3. Nini Wacera-Vivienne Country (Queen)
4. Julie Brenda Nyambura-Bella Mwakazi (Kina)
5. Nyokabi Macharia – Debra Maka (County 49)

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Best Editor

1. Ahmed Deen & George Mugambi (Ayaanle)
2. Patrick Katiku (International women’s day documentary)
3. Abbas Omar (Kiswahili Kitukuzwe)
4. Monicah Mugu (Almost Somali)
5. Nicholas Kibathi (Baba twins)

Best Lighting Technician

1. Raymond & Mzamil (Jaramandia)
2. Isaac Awene (Antisocial)
3. Isaac Iluve-Katule (Click Click Bang)
4. Paul Obunde (Ayaanle)
5. Jerry Kavita (Baba Twins)

Best Special Effects 

1. Evans Ojuka (Deviance)
2. Key Frame Media (Click Click Bang)
3. Khadijah Abdulqadir (The Message)
4. Ahmed Deen, Hillary Mwangi (Ayaanle)
5. Jeff Simintei (It Rained Again)

Best Director of Photography

1. Stanley Njogu (Gacal)
2. Andrew Mungai (Chaguo)
3. Abdi Shuria & Ahmed Deen (Ayaanle)
4. Enos Olik (Antisocial)
5. Ishmael Azeli Kenyan (Last supper)

Best Short Film

1. Chrismas Love-Peter Kawa
2. It Rained Again-Nancy Wanja
3. Last Supper-Karanja Ng’endo
4. Undugu-Victor “Viboks” Omondi
5. Mirror Mirror-Lucy Mwangi

Best Feature Film

1. Click Click Bang (Philip Karanja)
2. Anti Social (Brian Munene Gitahi)
3. Ayaanle (Ahmed Farah)
4. Chaguo (Ravi Karmalker)
5. Baba Twins (Lucy Mwangi)

Best Documentary Feature

1. Tales From The Pandemic (Cynthia Abdallah)
2. Unwrapped (Sheila Gakii Kimathi)
3. Stori Yangu (Eugene Mbugua)
4. The Elephants of Selenkay (Feisal Malik)

Best Original Screenplay

1. Dennis Humphrey (Jaramandia)
2. Abel Mutua (Click Click Bang)
3. Ahmed Farah: Tariq Bihi (Ayaanle)
4. Lawrence Murage (Baba Twins)
5. Shelly Gitonga (Last Supper)

Best Documentary Short

1. Nyumba Yu Mulogooli (Cynthia Abdalla)
2. Black Shines Brightest Stories (Nicholas Munene Mutuma)
3. International Women’s Day Documentary (Eugene Mbugua)
4. Kiswahili Kitukuzwe (Omar Kibulanga)
5. Almost Somali (Vincenzo Cavallo)

Best Original Score

1. Olivia Ambani (Tales from the Pandemic)
2. David Waronja (Mwanga)
3. Kester Wakahenya (It Rained Again)
4. Andrew Ahuura (Ayaanle)
5. Chabari Modest (Click Click Bang)

Best Make-Up and Hair Stylist

1. Melissa “Pambo by Mel’ Lesila (Click Click Bang)
2. Fatou (Ayaanle)
3. Florence Muthoni (Kaz)
4. Faith Heho (Sleep)
5. Khadija Addulqadir (Zuena)

Best Costume Designer

1. Eddah Wakesho (Christmas Love)
2. Esther Maina (Jaramandia)
3. Mercy Mwende Kabwei (Click Click Bang)
4. Fatou (Ayaanle)
5. Vanessa Ochieng (Chaguo)

Best Production Designer

1. Njuguna Nganga (Mwanga)
2. Omar Kibulanga (Kiswahili Kitukuzwe)
3. Isaac Njue (Ayaanle)
4. Cyrill Achebi (Click Click Bang)
5. Colins Mugala (Medicineman)

Best Director

1. Mohamed Ali (Gacal)
2. Lawrence Murage (Baba Twins)
3. Karanja Ng’endo (Last Supper)
4. Ahmed Farah (Ayaanle)
5. Vincent Mbaya (Chaguo)

Best Sound Designer

1. ‘Krowbar’ (Click Click Bang)
2. Andrew Ahuura (Ayaanle)
3. Patrick Katiku (International Women’s Day Documentary)
4. Abdallah Mohammed (Kiswahili Kitukuzwe)
5. Mercy Adundo (Throttle Queens)

Best TV Advertisement

1. CPF TVC 2 (Brian K.Tarus)
2. Nice And Lovely TVC (Amit Ramrakha)
3. Acnes TVC (Amit Ramrakha)
4. When You Smile (Nicholas Odongo)
5. Pata Chanjo (Vierra Patrick)

Best Animation

1. Donji Donji (Chris Wangai Njoka)
2. Health Care Workers Appreciation (Anne Kimani)
3. En Okumba (Joshua Omondi)
4. Rev (Ibrahim Faruk Ali)
5. I Am The Problem (Joshua Omondi)

Best International Award

1. Namuddu-Uganda
2. Still Okay To Date?-Tanzania
3. Malaika-Tanzania
4. Joyce’s Dream-Tanzania
5. Nimpende Nani?-Tanzania

Best Student Film

1. Cheza Nassanga (Ann)
2. Plain Sight (Ritchy Mistri)
3. Stinger (Bruno Tanya)
4. Lost (Film Aid Kenya)
5. The Weak End (Silas Brian Owiti)

Best Documentary by a Student

1. My Little Warrior-Audrey Restetuta Egesa
2. Ogiek At Crossroads-Jeffither Murimi Kariuki
3. Preparation Of “Mursik”-Wilson Yego
4. Divine Of Elavation(Kipsigis)-Pauline Wanjiru Mwangi
5. The Scourge (Chira)-Clinton Oguma

Best Kids Production

1. Preschool Kids Learning (Anne Kimani)
2. Good Hygiene Practices (Anne Kimani)
3. Toonaweza Tales (Eric M. Wainaina)
4. Tochi & Jose Fire Safety Show (Darren Collins)
5.  H Is For Hand-washing (Darren Collins)

Best Viewers Choice (Feature)

1. Gacal-OmarHamza
2. Ayaanle-Ahmed Farah
3. Click Click Bang-Philip Karanja
4. Chaguo-Ravi Karmalker
5. Anti Social-Brian Munene Gitahi
6. Jaramandia-Dennis Humphrey
7. Zuena-Shirleen Wangari
8. The Message-Jasmin Kalondu Munguti
9. Wrong Number-David Waronja
10. Mwanga-David Waronja

Best Viewers Choice (TV Drama)

1. Single Kiasi-Grace Kahaki
2. County 49-Brian Munene Gitahi
3. Nanyorrai (My Love)-Elphas Machia
4. Famous-Wanjiru Kahugu
5. Crime & Justice Season 2-Adam Neutzsky-Wulff
6. Paa-Born To Fly-Bharat Tavares
7. Salem-Wambui Mukundi
8. Njoro Wa Uba-Lucy Mwangi
9. Country Queen-Peter Obrist
10. Kina-Appie Matere

Best Gaming

The Gaming category accepts submissions for E-sports and Video Games. E-sports or electronic sports is organized competitive video gaming whereas a video game is an electronic game that involves
interaction with a user interface or input devices, such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing devices to generate visual feedback.

The two games nominated this year are;

• Money game by Anne Kimani
• Adventures of Mchupa by  Gathukia Mwangi

Nominations for the 12th edition of the Kalasha International Film and TV Awards began on August 24 and were completed on October 30. To qualify, all TV entries must have been on the air for at least seven episodes before October 2022.

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