Brian Ogola | |
|---|---|
| Born | Brian Omondi Ogola Genard December 8, 1989 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2012-present |
Brian Omondi Ogola Genard, credited as Brian Ogola, is a Kenyan film, television and stage actor. Since 2012 he has played roles in television shows, such as Jane and Abel , and in films such as Kati Kati , Lusala, Neophobia and Poacher.
Ogola was born in December 8, 1989 and raised in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, the son of George Josia Ogola Osele (1948–2021). [1] He attended Unity Primary School and later St. Mary’s School, Yala, where he completed his high school education and became interested in theatre. [2] He performed in church plays and musicals around the city from 2009.[ citation needed ] Ogola took business courses at the Technical University of Kenya from 2010 and then at Kenya Institute of Management, but left to pursue acting full time in 2013. [2]
In 2012 under the coaching of David Morin of Slingshot Productions, Ogola won an "actors monologue challenge"[ where? ].[ citation needed ] He made appearances in local tv shows such as Mwangaza,Love 101 on KTN, Block D[ citation needed ] and Lies That Bind (2013). [2] In 2014, he joined the soap opera Jane and Abel as leading man Abel Simba. [3]
In 2015, he appeared as Anto in the movie Kati Kati , which was nominated at the 90th Academy Awards as Best Foreign Language Film.[ citation needed ] The film won the 2017 Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival’s Emerging Filmmaker Award[ citation needed ] and 2017 Africa Movie Viewer’s Choice Awards for East Africa.[ citation needed ]
In 2017, he starred in the short film Neophobia, [4] the only African movie chosen for the 70th Cannes Film Festival.[ citation needed ] He was nominated for best film supporting actor at the East African Riverwood Awards for his role in the movie.[ citation needed ] The same year, he appeared in the Too Early for Birds historical plays, based on the blog Owaahh[ citation needed ] and as Mark in the film 18 Hours written and directed by Njue Kevin.[ citation needed ] The film won Best Overall Movie in Africa in the 6th Annual Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards 2018 (AMVCAs). [5]
In 2018, Ogola played Mutua in the Netflix short film Poacher. [2] The film was selected as a finalist at the Hollywood #Just4Shorts festival[ citation needed ] and was also selected to screen at the World of Film International Festival Glasgow'2018.[ citation needed ] The same year he appeared in the film Lusala. [4] He also appeared in the films Selina[ when? ] and Crime and Justice[ when? ]. [4]
In 2022, he starred in the new play Speak their Names by Sylvia Cassini at venues in Nairobi. [6]
 | This section needs to be updated.(December 2024) |
| Year | Project | Role | Title | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Love101 | |||
| 2013 | Poison Ivy | Chris | Theatrical performance | [7] |
| 2013-14 | Lies that Bind | Ben Juma #2 | Series regular; Replaced Maqbul Mohammed during the series' run | [8] |
| 2014–present | Jane and Abel | Abel Simba | Protagonist | [9] |
| year | project | role | notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Lusala | ||
| 2018 | Poacher | Mutua | |
| 2017 | 18 Hours | Mark | |
| 2017 | Neophobia | ||
| 2016 | Kati Kati | Anto |
Margaret Atieno Ogola was a Kenyan Catholic novelist who wrote The River and the Source and its sequel, I Swear by Apollo.
The cinema of Kenya refers to the film industry of Kenya. Although a very small industry by western comparison, Kenya has produced or been a location for film since the early 1950s when Men Against the Sun was filmed in 1952. Although, in the United States, jungle epics that were set in the country were shot in Hollywood as early as the 1940s.
Soul Boy is a 2010 Kenyan drama film, written by Billy Kahora and directed by Hawa Essuman. It developed under the mentorship of German director and producer Tom Tykwer in Kibera, one of the largest slums in the African continent, in the middle of Nairobi, Kenya. The film has received five nominations at the 2011 Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Nairobi Half Life is a 2012 Kenyan drama film directed by David "Tosh" Gitonga. The film was selected as the Kenyan entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, but did not make it to the final shortlist. It was the first time Kenya had submitted a film in this category.
Nicholas Munene Mutuma is a Kenyan actor, producer, television/radio host and corporate emcee. He has been working professionally since 2008.
Maureen Koech is a Kenyan actress, songwriter and singer. She appears in the KTN's Lies that Bind.
Elizabeth Anne Achieng' Njagah known as Lizz Njagah, is a Kenyan actress, film director and producer.
Jane & Abel is a Kenyan television series that premiered on 4 September 2015 at Maisha Magic East. It stars Lizz Njagah and Brian Ogola. Mumbi Maina stars as the antagonist. The soap opera takes lust, passion, greed, deceit and spite as the main thematic concerns.
Kati Kati is a 2016 Kenyan drama film directed by Mbithi Masya. Kati Kati is a co-production of One Fine Day Films and Ginger Ink. At the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, Kati Kati won the Prize of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) for the Discovery programme. It was selected as the Kenyan entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.
Tuko Macho is a Kenyan web series, which premiered in 2016. A dramatization of Kenya's issues with crime and vigilante justice, the series centres on a vigilante gang who kidnap criminals in Nairobi, and asks viewers to vote on their execution or release.
18 Hours is a 2017 Kenyan drama film written and directed by Njue Kevin on his directorial debut. The cast includes Nick Ndeda, Sue Wanjiru, Brian Ogola, Isaya Evans and Shirleen Wangari.
Charles Karumi Maina, known professionally as Charlie Karumi, is a Kenyan actor and Radio /TV presenter. He has appeared in several plays, television series and films. He is best known for his role as Tony on Kenyan drama Jane and Abel and for hosting entertainment magazine show Arena 254 on K24.
Disconnect is a 2018 Kenyan romantic comedy film directed by David 'Tosh' Gitonga and Michael Jones. The film stars Kenyan actress Brenda Wairimu and actor Nick Mutuma who lead a diverse cast which explores the dating scene in Nairobi.
Poacher is a 2018 Kenyan / British short film directed by Tom Whitworth. The film received wide international attention after its release in Netflix in September 2020. It also became the first ever Kenyan film to be released via Netflix.
Mbithi Masya is a Kenyan filmmaker, artist and writer born in Nairobi, Kenya on 13 December,1985.
Ruth Ndulu Maingi is a Kenyan actress. She is best known for her roles in the films 18 Hours, The Distant Boat, and Midlife Crisis.
40 Sticks is a 2020 Kenyan thriller film produced by SensePLAY, a Kenyan audio-visual production house, an arm of Password Ventures Ltd. It premiered on Netflix on November 20, 2020, showing in Africa, US, UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. 40 Sticks is the fourth Kenyan film to premiere on Netflix in 2020, after Poacher, Sincerely Daisy and Disconnect. The story was created by Frank G. Maina, and written together with Voline Ogutu, and directed by Victor Gatonye.
Peter King Nzioki Mwania, popularly known as Peter King, is a Kenyan actor. He is best known for his roles in the films The Constant Gardener, The Fifth Estate and Sense8.
Lusala is a 2019 Kenyan drama film written by Silas Miami, Wanjeri Gakuru and Oprah Oyugi, and directed by Mugambi Nthiga on his directorial debut. The film stars Brian Ogola, Alyce Wangari, Stycie Waweru, Mkamzee Mwatela and Alan Oyugi in the lead roles. The film is based on the life of a 22 year old young man Lusala, who is caught between his personal mental health issues and his sibling affection. The film had its initial release in Kenya on 6 June 2019 during the NBO Film Festival and was also screened at a few other international film festivals.
Crime and Justice is a 2021 Kenyan Showmax Original mystery, crime, and drama series produced by Showmax and Canal+, starring Alfred Munyua, Sarah Hassan, Maqbul Mohammed, Paul Ogola, and Brian Ogola.