Nawi (film)

Last updated
NAWI - Dear Future Me
NAWI Poster 4200x6000 600ppi RGB 16bit.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
  • Toby Schmutzler
  • Kevin Schmutzler
  • Apuu Mourine
  • Vallentine Chelluget
Written byMilcah Cherotich
Produced by
Starring
  • Michelle Lemuya
  • Joel Liwan
  • Ochungo Benson
  • Ben Tekee
  • Michelle Chebet Tiren
  • Patrick Oketch
  • Nungo Marrianne Akinyi
  • Nyokabi Macharia
Cinematography
  • Klaus Kneist
  • Mwende Renata
Music by
  • Amadeus Indetzki
  • Apuu Mourine
Release date
  • August 2024 (2024-08)
Running time
99 minutes
CountryKenya
Languages
  • Swahili
  • English

NAWI: Dear Future Me (marketed as Nawi: Dear Future Me) is a 2024 Kenyan-German coming-of-age drama directed by the brothers Toby and Kevin Schmutzler, Apuu Mourine, and Vallentine Chelluget and written by Milcah Cherotich. Set in the remote Turkana region of Kenya, the film follows a young girl's struggle against a forced marriage and her pursuit of education and self-determination. [1]

Contents

NAWI was selected as the Kenyan's entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. [2] NAWI has screened on over 50 international film festivals worldwide and has won 25 awards, including Best Promising Actor for the film's lead actress, Michelle Lemuya Ikeny at the African Movie Academy Award [3] , Best International Film at Raindance and the German Peace Prize "Die Brücke".

Synopsis

NAWI is set in the arid, isolated landscapes of Turkana, Kenya, focusing on the life of a young girl named Nawi. The film, based on true events, follows Nawi, a 13-year-old girl who is sold into marriage for livestock. Desperate to escape her fate, Nawi flees on her wedding night to pursue her dream of attending high school. Along her journey, she faces challenges from her family and community bound by traditional customs. Nawi takes a bold stand for her own life and those of other young girls at risk, embodying themes of resistance, hope, and transformation. The film emphasizes the need of access to education especially for girls in remote regions of Africa in order to fight the practice of forced child marriages.

Cast

Background and development

NAWI is a collaboration between the production companies FilmCrew Media GmbH [4] and Baobab Pictures [5] and the Turkana-based NGO Learning Lions, [6] which focuses on educational opportunities and social empowerment for young people in Turkana, Kenya. The story for the script was found through a national writing contest in Kenya, where Milcah Cherotich, a first-time writer, shared a compelling story about a young girl facing forced marriage. [7] This story became the foundation of the film, resonating with both local and international concerns regarding child marriage and gender equality. [2]

NAWI was filmed in the remote landscapes of Turkana, with a team that included international and Kenyan crew members. It was directed by four directors,Toby and Kevin Schmutzler, Apuu Mourine and Vallentine Chelluget. The production itself became a learning experience for many in the region, reflecting the film's mission of empowerment through education and cross-cultural collaboration. To support the cause beyond the film, the NAWI Initiative was created, with a portion of the film's proceeds dedicated to initiatives that help girls escape forced marriage through education and support programs. [8]

Reception

Michelle Lemuya won the 2024 African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Promising Actor for her role as Nawi. [3] The film was also nominated in four other categories including Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Make Up. [9] The film had its German festival premiere at the Hof International Film Festival [10] and its Kenyan festival premiere at the Nairobi Film Fest. [11] It's extensive festival run continued on prestigious events like Raindance, Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) and Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF).

In addition to screenings in the festival circuit, NAWI screened at high level NGO and political events like UN General Assembly 80 and UN CSW in cooperation with Girls Not Brides.

Securing an exceptionally long cinema run of seven weeks within Kenya, NAWI was acclaimed for its beautiful storytelling, powerful acting and cinematography. [12]

List of awards won:

Festival / AwardCountrySection / CategoryAward(s) for Nawi: Dear Future MeRef.
African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)NigeriaActingBest Young/Promising Actor – Michelle Lemuya Ikeny [13]
Raindance Film FestivalUnited KingdomFeature competitionBest Feature Film; Best Debut Performance (Michelle Lemuya Ikeny) [14]
Beijing International Film Festival – Tiantan AwardsChinaMain international competitionSpecial Jury Award [15]
Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF)United StatesNarrative feature competitionBest Feature Film [16]
German Film Award for Peace – "Die Brücke"GermanyPeace & human rights cinemaSpecial Prize / German Film Award for Peace for Nawi [17]
Zlín Film Festival – International Film Festival for Children and YouthCzech RepublicYouth / junior competitionYouth Jury Award for Best Feature Film (Teens & Youth section) [18]
Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF)SwitzerlandInternational competitionAudience Award [19]
Kitale Film WeekKenyaCraft / cinematographyBest Cinematography [20]
International Film Festival Gorinchem (IFFG)NetherlandsInternational competitionAudience Award [21] [22]
Stockholm International Film Festival JuniorSwedenYouth competition (11–19)Bronze Horse – Best Film (11–19 years) [23]
Eurasia Kinofest – International Film Festival of Eurasian CountriesRussiaMain competitionBest Film [24]
tve Global Sustainability Film Awards (GSFA)United KingdomFounder's Award – feature filmsFounder's Award (Feature category) – Sustainability on the Big Screen [25] [26]
Spirit of Fire International Festival of Cinematographic DebutsRussiaInternational competition (youth / debut)Best Feature Film (International competition; Golden/Bronze Taiga) [27] [28]
Internationales Filmwochenende WürzburgGermanyInternational programmeAudience Award [29] [30]
Novi Sad Film FestivalSerbiaMain competitionBest Film [31]
Stony Brook Film FestivalUnited StatesFestival awardsAudience Award for Best Feature [32] [33]
DaVinci International Film FestivalUnited StatesFeature competitionLeo Award – Best Feature Film (International) [34] [35] [36]
Pigeon International Film FestivalIcelandInternational competitionBest Film; Best Cinematography; Best Acting [37]
Kineko International Children’s Film FestivalJapanTeens feature competitionBest Teen Film / Grand Prize – Teen Feature section [38] [39]
Ateker International Film FestivalKenyaMain competitionBest Film [40] [41]
Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF)NigeriaPerformance awardsBest Female Performance – Michelle Lemuya Ikeny [42] [43]
Cinemafricano / Festival del Cinema Africano (Educational section)ItalyEducational / youth juryBest Educational Film (Educational section prize) [44] [45]
013 International Film Festival (Cinecitta Tilburg)NetherlandsInternational competitionAudience Award [46] [47]
Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards (HAPAwards)United StatesFilm awards – Africa sectionBest Independent Film (Africa) [48] [49]
Film by the Sea International Film FestivalNetherlandsYouth & audience awardsYouth Jury Award; Audience Award [50] [51]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "They're young, but their acting is powerful: Four fresh faces this awards season". Los Angeles Times . 22 November 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Kenya's International Oscar Bid 'Nawi' Highlights Chilling Tradition of Older Men Buying Child Brides – Deadline Virtual Screening Series". 22 November 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-11-26. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  3. 1 2 "AMAA Winners - Africa Movie Academy Awards". 23 July 2024. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  4. ↑ "H O M e | frew". Archived from the original on 2024-09-01. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
  5. ↑ "Baobab Pictures". Archived from the original on 2024-12-14. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
  6. ↑ "Home - Learning Lions". Archived from the original on 2024-12-25. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
  7. ↑ "Kenya's International Oscar Bid 'Nawi' Highlights Chilling Tradition of Older Men Buying Child Brides – Deadline Virtual Screening Series". 22 November 2024.
  8. ↑ "Nawi". Archived from the original on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
  9. ↑ "These African Films Are Vying for Nominations at the 2025 Oscars - Okayplayer". Archived from the original on 2024-11-27. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  10. ↑ "Cultural diversity: Three feature-length films and one short film from Africa | Hof International Film Festival". Archived from the original on 2024-12-23. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  11. ↑ "Nawi".
  12. ↑ "Kenya - Nawi". Archived from the original on 2024-12-23. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  13. ↑ African Movie Academy Awards 2024 – winners
  14. ↑ Raindance Film Festival – 33rd edition award winners
  15. ↑ FilmFreeway – Nawi: Dear Future Me awards and screenings
  16. ↑ FilmFreeway – Nawi: Dear Future Me awards and screenings
  17. ↑ Friedenspreis geht nach Ingolstadt – espresso (18 June 2025)
  18. ↑ Zlín Film Festival – awards overview
  19. ↑ 39th Fribourg IFF – audience awards and record attendance
  20. ↑ Official film site – awards section for Nawi
  21. ↑ FilmFreeway – Nawi: Dear Future Me awards and screenings
  22. ↑ Nawi – BiosAgenda (NL), noting IFFG audience award
  23. ↑ FilmFreeway – Nawi: Dear Future Me awards and screenings
  24. ↑ Official film site – awards section for Nawi
  25. ↑ Current Affairs – article noting Nawi winning the Founder’s Award (Feature)
  26. ↑ Hindustan Times report on 13th GSFA mentioning Nawi
  27. ↑ Spirit of Fire Film Festival 2025 – awards (IMDb)
  28. ↑ Africine – Nawi festival profile and awards
  29. ↑ Official Würzburg Film Week 2025 results PDF – audience award for Nawi
  30. ↑ Main-Post – Nawi wins audience award in Würzburg
  31. ↑ Official Novi Sad Film Festival archive – award for Nawi
  32. ↑ Stony Brook University – 30th Stony Brook Film Festival winners
  33. ↑ Vimooz – Mistura, ‘Mad Bills to Pay’ and Nawi Win Top Prizes at 30th Stony Brook Film Festival
  34. ↑ DaVinci International Film Festival – programme including Nawi
  35. ↑ mxdwn Movies – noting Leo Award for Best Film at DaVinci
  36. ↑ VideoAge – DaVinci Fest Unveils Awards
  37. ↑ Pigeon International Film Festival – Nawi page with awards
  38. ↑ Report on 32nd Kineko International Children’s Film Festival – Teen Feature Grand Prize for Nawi
  39. ↑ Official film site – awards section for Nawi
  40. ↑ Official film site – awards section for Nawi
  41. ↑ Ateker International Film Festival – social media post announcing Nawi as Best Film
  42. ↑ Nawi: Dear Future Me – awards overview (IMDb)
  43. ↑ Official film site – awards section for Nawi
  44. ↑ Educational section – winners list including Nawi
  45. ↑ Educational 2025 – I vincitori – Cinemafricano, listing Nawi
  46. ↑ 013 International Film Festival – festival page
  47. ↑ Dutch film news – article listing 013 IFF audience awards including Nawi
  48. ↑ HAPAwards 2025 – official winners list (PDF)
  49. ↑ Feature on HAPAwards 2025 – mentions Nawi as Best Independent Film (Africa)
  50. ↑ Film by the Sea 2025 – awards (IMDb)
  51. ↑ Programmation and awards – Film by the Sea (NL), including Nawi
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