Gilbert Lukalia

Gilbert Lukalia
Nationality	Kenyan
Citizenship	Kenyan
Occupations	Actor Writer Director
Years active	2009 - Present
Known for	The Marshal of Finland
Notable work	Pray and Prey Shattered Mission to Rescue

Gilbert Lukalia is a Kenyan actor and film director. ^{[1] [2]}

Career

Lukalia grew up in a military family and began his early career as a stage actor at the Kenya National Theatre. ^[2] He has also worked in multiple different positions in the film industry: as an assistant director and producer ^[2] He is currently working at the Nairobi based Dream House Productions, which produces theatre plays, music events, TV-series and films both for Tv and big screen ^{[2] [3]}

He has acted and directed award-winning feature films and TV series in Kenya including Mission to Rescue , Shattered , Pray and Prey , Lost in Africa and the First Grader .

Mission to Rescue was in 2021 selected as Kenya's submission at the 94th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.

He has also directed some international films such as The Marshal of Finland . ^{[4] [5]} The film's world premiere was at The Helsinki International Love & Anarchy Film Festival on 28 September 2012.

He also directed Strength of A Woman in 2014 where it received nominations at the 2014 Kalasha Awards ^[6] and won five awards. ^[2] It won awards for Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Lighting and Best Original Score. ^[7] It had stars renowned Kenyan actors with Rose K. Njoroge taking the lead role and Laura Leila Wingate, Ashford Kirimi, Sandra Dhacha taking up supporting roles which they expertly and vividly depict. ^[2]

Filmography

As Director

Year	Title	Category
2011	Shattered [8]	Drama
2012	The Marshal of Finland [9]	Drama
2012	Drunk Dead [10]	Drama
2013	Exposure [11]	Drama
2014	Double Trouble [12]	Drama
2014	Malaika Nights [13]	TV Movie
2014	The Hands That Feeds You [14]	TV Movie
2014	Gun Theory [15]	TV Movie
2015	Strength of a Woman [16]
2014 - 2015	Pray & Prey [17]	TV Series
2021	Mission to Rescue [18]	Action Thriller
2022 - 2024	Salem [19]	TV Series
2023	Kiza [20] [21]	Drama
2024	1992 [22]	Short film
2025	Reckless [23]	TV Series

As Actor

Year	Title	Category
2009 - 2013	Nairobi Law [24]	TV Series
2009	The Resurrection [25]	Short film
2010	Lost in Africa [26]	Drama Thriller
2013	It's Us [27]	Drama
2014	Strata [28]	TV Mini Series
2017	Kidnapped [29]	Thriller
2017	Pendo [30]	Short film
2019	Chuma [31]	Short film
2021	Akinyi [32]	Short film
2021	Mission to Rescue	Action Thriller
2022	Kam U Stay [33]	TV Series
2021	1992	Short film

Awards and Nominatations

Year	Award	Work	Category	Results
2010	Kalasha International Film and TV Awards	Siri	Best Lead Actor in a TV Drama [34]	Nominated
2011			Best Lead Actor in a TV Drama [35]	Nominated
2012		Shattered	Best Director [36]	Nominated
2014		The Marshal of Finland	Best Supporting Actor in a Film [37]	Nominated
2017		Kidnapped	Best Supporting Actor in a Film [38]	Nominated
2021	African Movie Academy Awards	Mission to Rescue	Best Director [39]	Nominated

References

1. "Kenya Submits 'Mission To Rescue' for Oscars". The Kenya Forum. 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
2. "Kenyan Award Winning Film 'Strength of A Woman' to Premiere During International Women's Day Weekend". Mwende Ngao. 2015-02-27. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
3. Muendo, Stevens. "Hope as theatre lights up again". The Standard. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
4. "What would happen if you made a film about a key figure in Finnish history and cast Kenyan actors?". africasacountry.com. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
5. Stephenson, William (February 2000). Miller, Gilbert Heron (1884-1969), theatrical producer and director. American National Biography Online. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1800835.
6. "The complete list of the 2014 Kalasha film and TV Awards winners". Capital Lifestyle. 2014-07-29. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
7. Gachango, Rayhab (2015-03-04). "Strength of a Woman - Movie review". Potentash. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
8. Lukalia, Gilbert K. (2011-11-25), Shattered (Drama), Rita Dominic, Allan Adika, Melvin Alusa, Dream House Productions, retrieved 2025-08-21
9. Lukalia, Gilbert K. (2012-09-28), Suomen Marsalkka (Drama), Telley Savalas Otieno, Beatrice Wangui, Ruth Maingi, Filmistuudio Kalevipojad, Savane Productions, Yleisradio (YLE), retrieved 2025-08-21
10. Lukalia, Gilbert K. (2012-10-27), Drunk Dead (Drama), Mike Awiti, Dainna Berrecket, Katherine Damaris, Sinema Sisi, retrieved 2025-08-21
11. Lukalia, Gilbert K., Exposure, Elsaphan Njora, retrieved 2025-08-21
12. Lukalia, Gilbert K., Double Trouble, Iddi Achieng, Joyce Maina, Brian Ogola, retrieved 2025-08-21
13. Lukalia, Gilbert K., Malaika Nights (Drama), Charity Nyambura, Mike Rewa, Caroline Wanjie, Zamaradi Productions, retrieved 2025-08-21
14. Lukalia, Gilbert K., The Hand That Feeds You (Drama), Robert Agengo, Eddie Mbugua, Gloria Moraa, Zamaradi Productions, retrieved 2025-08-21
15. Lukalia, Gilbert K., Gun Theory (Drama), Vera Atsango, Gerald Langiri, Arabron Nyyeneque, Zamaradi Productions, retrieved 2025-08-21
16. Lukalia, Gilbert K. (2015-03-05), Strength of a Woman (Drama), Rose K. Njoroge, Sandra Dacha, Ashford Kirimi, Pickpoint Productions, retrieved 2025-08-21
17. Pray & Prey (Drama), Amalie Chopetta, Pascal Tokodi, Mbuthia Ngware, 2014-12-02, retrieved 2025-08-21
18. Lukalia, Gilbert K. (2021-07-02), Mission to Rescue (Action, Thriller), Melvin Alusa, Warsame Abdi, Abdi Yusuf, Foxton Media, retrieved 2025-08-21
19. Salem (Drama), Melvin Alusa, Dennis Ndirangu Drisky, Illya Frank, Zebra Productions Kenya, 2022-04-25, retrieved 2025-08-21
20. Lukalia, Gilbert K. (2023-11-24), Kiza (Drama), Robert Agengo, Dedan Juma, Gitura Kamau, Double Pearl Production, retrieved 2025-08-21
21. "Kenyan film 'Kiza' to have its premiere in Nairobi". Nairobi News. 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
22. Lukalia, Gilbert K. (2024-09-06), 1992 (Short, Drama), Susan Joanitah Njuguna, Enock Kalungi, Charles Kiarie, Blackwell Films, Docubox EADFF, retrieved 2025-08-21
23. Reckless (Drama), Brian Abajah, Georgina Mbira, Eddie Mbugua, Live Eye TV, 2025-06-23, retrieved 2025-08-21
24. Nairobi Law (Drama), Pinky Ghelani, Martin Githinji, Eddy Kimani, 2009-03-04, retrieved 2025-08-21
25. Nchogu, Vincho (2009-09-22), The Resurrection (Short, Drama), Evelyn Akinyi, Clement Arua, Bertha Kangongoi, Big Ideas Entertainment, retrieved 2025-08-21
26. Muasya, Vibeke (2010-10-07), Kidnappet (Drama, Family, Thriller), Connie Nielsen, Lars Mikkelsen, Simon Larsen, SF Studios, Windelov Productions, retrieved 2025-08-21
27. Reding, Nick, Ni sisi (Comedy, Drama, Romance), Kongo Abdalah, Mwajuma Bahati, Alfred Calypso, retrieved 2025-08-21
28. Strata (Drama), Omfwoko Aswani, Gilbert K. Lukalia, Sabina Stadler, Et Cetera Productions, 2014-08-22, retrieved 2025-08-21
29. Njache, Mwaniki, Kidnapped (Thriller), Lydia Gitachu, John Kararahe, Daniel Katungi, Machawood, Wordypix Company, retrieved 2025-08-21
30. Musembi, Faith (2017-11-11), Pendo (Short, Drama), Gilbert K. Lukalia, Olwenya Maina, retrieved 2025-08-21
31. Musembi, Faith (2019-11-22), Chuma (Short, Sci-Fi), Gilbert K. Lukalia, Ibrahim Muchemi, Adaeze Imani Muga, Faimus Films, retrieved 2025-08-21
32. Oduor, Ignatius (2021-01-08), Akinyi (Short, Drama), Neema Bagamuhunda, Catherine Enane, Brian Kyallo-Msafiri, Revolutionary Pictures, retrieved 2025-08-21
33. Kam U Stay (Comedy), Reinhard Bonke, Escay Gitonga, Kevin Kasyoki, Hadithi Media, 2024-01-11, retrieved 2025-08-21
34. Siri, Iddi Achieng, Rose Masaka Adagala, Major Aguda, Benarts Media Creations, Maxsyl Art Productions, retrieved 2025-08-21
35. Siri, Iddi Achieng, Rose Masaka Adagala, Major Aguda, Benarts Media Creations, Maxsyl Art Productions, retrieved 2025-08-21
36. Lukalia, Gilbert K. (2011-11-25), Shattered (Drama), Rita Dominic, Allan Adika, Melvin Alusa, Dream House Productions, retrieved 2025-08-21
37. Lukalia, Gilbert K. (2012-09-28), Suomen Marsalkka (Drama), Telley Savalas Otieno, Beatrice Wangui, Ruth Maingi, Filmistuudio Kalevipojad, Savane Productions, Yleisradio (YLE), retrieved 2025-08-21
38. Njache, Mwaniki, Kidnapped (Thriller), Lydia Gitachu, John Kararahe, Daniel Katungi, Machawood, Wordypix Company, retrieved 2025-08-21
39. Lukalia, Gilbert K. (2021-07-02), Mission to Rescue (Action, Thriller), Melvin Alusa, Warsame Abdi, Abdi Yusuf, Foxton Media, retrieved 2025-08-21

External links

• Gilbert Lukalia at IMDb