Presented by the Goethe-Institut
Co-presented by the Toronto Black Film Festival
In 2008, Berlin director Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run; Cloud Atlas) started to invite African filmmakers to write and produce their own stories. A decade later, his project One Fine Day Films has mentored 1000 filmmakers from 21 African countries. GOETHE FILMS highlights 6 Kenyan-German features that have come out of these collaborations and have won awards from Los Angeles to Rotterdam.
A showcase of new directions.
Supa Modo (Germany, Kenya 2018, 74 min), by Likarion Wainaina
Language: English, Kikuyu & Swahili with English subtitles
Awards:
Crystal Bear - Special Mention, Berlinale 2018
Generation Kplus - Best Feature Film, Berlinale 2018
Audience Award Foreign Narrative, Cinetopia Detroit 2018
Special Jury Diploma Teen Screen Competition, Molodist IFF Kiew 2018
Festivals 2018: TIFF, Hamburg FF, SIFF (Seattle), Minneapolis St. Paul IFF
Jo, a witty 9-year-old terminally ill girl, is taken back to her rural village to live out the rest of her short life. Her only comfort during these dull times are her dreams of being a superhero, which prove to be something her rebellious teenage sister Mwix, overprotective mother Kathryn and the entire village of Maweni think they can fulfill.
Supa Modo was selected as the Kenyan entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, 2019.
“Stycie Waweru gives a brilliant performance as Jo. Granted, filmmaker Likarion Wainaina directs Waweru’s natural youthful exuberance well, but the way this breakout star commits to the role is nothing short of impressive.” – wyliewrites.com
“It's not an exaggeration to say that what they wrote is the purest magic I have seen on Kenyan television this year, thus far, and I doubt that record will be beaten.” – The Daily Nation
Likarion Wainaina is a Kenyan filmmaker born in Moscow, Russia, who lives and works in Nairobi, Kenya. He is marking his seventh year working as a professional film/TV director and cinematographer. In this time he has gathered a wealth of experience and showcased his talents in various productions. As a cinematographer he has also worked on a number of documentaries and commercials and has directed TV shows - both drama and sitcoms.
All GOETHE FILMS are open to audiences 18+.
Part of the Goethe-Institut's focus on German film:
