Kalasha Awards 2026: ‘Nawi’ Leads Overall with 15 Nominations as ‘Kash Money’, ‘MTV Shuga Mashariki’ and ‘Big Girl Small Word’ Tie in TV

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Wednesday 25 March, the Kenya Film Commission (KFC) announced the nominees for the 14th edition of the <a href="https://www.sinemafocus.com/kalasha-awards-2025-delayed-but-still-on-kfc-confirms-as-it-hints-at-possible-restructuring/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kalasha International Film and TV Awards</a> at a ceremony held at Anga Cinema, Panari, marking the awards’ return after a one-year hiatus. A total of 185 submissions were received across 40 categories, with 18 of these open to public voting, which is now underway.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kalasha Awards, KFC’s flagship event, celebrate excellence in film and television production, recognizing outstanding talent across the Kenyan and African creative industry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The Awards in their 14^th edition builds on the legacy of previous ceremonies that have helped raise the bar for quality productions, creativity and professionalism. Our theme: “Innovating Tradition, Re-inventing Storytelling One Frame at a Time,” is beautifully reflected in these entries” said KFC CEO Timothy Owase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owase added that this year's nominees will receive a cash prize of Kshs. 200,000 per category. Additionally, KFC will introduce two new categories for digital content creators as the industry continues to evolve towards digital platforms.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the film category, Kenya's Oscar 2025 entry <em><a href="https://www.sinemafocus.com/review-kenyas-oscars-2025-entry-nawi-confronts-an-age-old-turkana-tradition/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nawi</a></em> leads overall nominations with 15 nods including Best Feature, Best Lead Actress (for Michelle Lemuya) and Best Director for Toby and Kevin Schmutzler, Vallentine Chelluget and Apuu Mourine. <em>Nawi</em> is followed closely by the short film <em><a href="https://www.sinemafocus.com/kenya-east-africa-2025-red-sea-film-festival-souk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Owadwa</a></em>, with 14 nominations including Best Director (for Shandra Apondi), Best Original Screenplay, Best Lead Actor (Brian Furaha) and Best Lead Actress (Beatrice Kamuyu). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other nominees in film include the short film <em>Sukari</em>, with 13 nominations, including Best Director for Omar Hamza; Kenyan-Swedish thriller <em>The Dog</em> with10 nominations. Damien Hauser’s <em>Memory of Princess Mumbi</em>, which opened at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, received only six nominations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In TV, <em>Big Girl Small Word</em> (Showmax), directed by Nick Mutuma, <em><a href="https://www.sinemafocus.com/review-visually-vibrant-but-narratively-thin-kash-money-is-a-colourful-mess/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kash Money</a></em> (Netflix) and <em><a href="https://www.sinemafocus.com/review-gloss-excess-and-the-chaos-of-youth-mtv-shuga-masharikis-most-honest-reflection-may-be-unintentional/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MTV Shuga Mashariki</a></em>—which returned to Kenya after 15 years—lead with 8 nominations each, including Best TV Drama, Best Lead Actor and Best Lead Actress. Showmax sci-fi <em><a href="https://www.sinemafocus.com/subterranea-review-rough-around-the-edges-kenyas-first-sci-fi-series-breaks-new-ground/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subterranea</a></em>, directed by Likarion Wainaina is a close second with 7 nominations each. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As far as production houses go, Insignia Productions has emerged as a dominant force in the TV field, with <em>Kash Money</em>, <em>Single Kiasi</em> (six nominations) and <em><a href="https://www.sinemafocus.com/the-chocolate-empire-new-crime-drama-from-the-creators-of-single-kiasi-and-kash-money-to-premiere-on-showmax/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Chocolate Empire</a></em> (four nominations) collectively accounting for a significant share of the nominations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Prefects</em>, which was nominated at the International Emmy Awards in 2025—becoming only the second Kenyan title to achieve the feat—received just two nominations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on 2 May 2026, as part of the Kalasha International Film & TV Market, Festival and Awards taking place from 28 April to 2 May 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). The multi-day event brings together filmmakers, distributors, industry stakeholders and innovators, offering a platform for dialogue, policy exchange and collaboration.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Sinema Focus</em> will publish a full analysis of this year’s nominations and the Kalasha Awards system, examining what they reveal about the state of the awards and the industry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the meantime, below is the full list of nominees for the 2026 Kalasha Awards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>BEST FEATURE FILM</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Nawi</em> — Brizan Were</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>The Dog</em> — Appie Matere</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Sketchy Africans</em> — Vincent Mbaya & Sally Nyoike</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Safari</em> — Reuben Odanga</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>S.He Gets Me</em> — Millicent Ogutu</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A FILM</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Juma Mdoe (<em>Sukari</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Brian Furaha (<em>Owadwa</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Joe Kinyua (<em>S.He Gets Me</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Jeff Omondi (<em>Kanairo</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Alexander Karim (<em>The Dog</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Bruce Makau (<em>2 Asunder</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Elsaphan Njora (<em>Transaction</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A FILM</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mumtaz Dhulfiqar (<em>Sukari</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Michelle Lemuya (<em>Nawi</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Gachiki Gachiki (<em>Transaction</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Nyokabi Macharia (<em>Sketchy Africans</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Shandra Apondi (<em>Memory of Princess Mumbi</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Angela Mwandanda (<em>S.He Gets Me</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Beatrice Kamuyu (<em>Owadwa</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A FILM</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Jave Samson (<em>Sukari</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Derrick Agwingi (<em>Owadwa</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Morris Mwangi (<em>Sketchy Africans</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Kevin Maina (<em>2 Asunder</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Blessing Lung’aho (<em>Ajeni</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Fish Chege (<em>Transaction</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A FILM</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ivy Collette (<em>Owadwa</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sanaipei Tande (<em>2 Asunder</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Brenda Michelle (<em>Makosa Ni Yangu</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Kui Kabana (<em>Bella Is Dying Maybe Next Week</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Caroline Midimo (<em>The Dog</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Michelle Tiren (<em>Nawi</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>BEST DIRECTOR</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Omar Hamza (<em>Sukari</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mark Maina (<em>The People Shall</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Shandra Apondi (<em>Owadwa</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Toby and Kevin Schmutzler, Vallentine Chelluget and Apuu Mourine (<em>Nawi</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Wanjeri Gakuru (<em>Transaction</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cecimercy Wanza (<em>Kanairo</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Baker Karim (<em>The Dog</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Damien Hauser (<em>Memory of Princess Mumbi</em>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Sukari</em> — June Wairegi & Omar Hamza</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Transaction</em> — Wanjeri Gakuru</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Owadwa</em> — Shandra Apondi</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Kanairo</em> — Clementina Kabutha & Cecimercy Wanza</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>S.He Gets Me</em> — Brian Munene</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Ngone Mwaitu</em> — Jackline Emali</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Memory of Princess Mumbi</em> — Damien Hauser</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Sketchy Africans</em> — Veronika Kotengo</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Nawi</em> — Milcah Cherotich</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Nawi – Dear Future Me</em> — Klaus Kneist</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Owadwa</em> — Damien Hauser</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>The Dog</em> — Andrew Mungai and Baker Karim</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>The People Shall</em> — Bryan Adagala</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Sukari</em> — Mohamed Zanudin</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Sarah</em> — Joan Poggio</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Makosa Ni Yangu</em> — Mohammed Zain</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Transaction</em> — Geoffrey Mwangi</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Kanairo</em> — Jackson Kang’ethe</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>BEST SOUND DESIGNER</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Sukari</em> — Omar Hamza</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>The People Shall</em> — Seam P.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Kanairo</em> — Daniel “Clue” Ateng</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Sarah</em> — Teddy Priest Ochieng</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Nawi</em> — Roman Pogorzelski</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Owadwa</em> — Michael “Cap” Chepkwony</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>BEST FILM SCORE</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Sukari</em> — Frank Matovu</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Memory of Princess Mumbi</em> — Damien Hauser</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Nawi – Dear Future Me</em> — Amadeus Indetzki and Apuu Mourine</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Owadwa</em> — Billy Black</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Kanairo</em> — Mbinu Mbili</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Wamaitha</em> — Muringi Matheri</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>BEST EDITOR</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Sukari</em> — Omar Hamza</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>The People Shall</em> — Mark Maina</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Nawi – Dear Future Me</em> — Toby Schmutzler</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Owadwa</em> — Jibril Drake</li> <!-- /wp:list-item -->

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