Hundreds of Mombasa residents flocked Alliance Francaise Nyali over the weekend of March 1 and 2, 2024 to watch captivating short films and documentaries made by local creators from the Kenya’s Coast Region.
The films and documentaries festival dubbed Lampart Short Film Festival (LFSS) is an initiative of the Transcultural Perspectives in Art and Art Education (TPAAE), a research project implemented by a consortium of institutions including Technical University of Mombasa, Pwani University, Kenyatta University, Academy of Art in Szczecin (Poland), National Museum in Szczecin (Poland) and University of Macerata (Italy).
To realize the film festival TPAAE further brought onboard Alliance Francaise in Mombasa, Polish Embassy and Kenya Film Commission.
The project investigates contemporary art in Europe and East Africa, and forms of art education on both continents in a transcultural perspective.
The participants in the competition were drawn from the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM), Pwani University, and it also included independent filmmakers from Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Taita Taveta and Lamu Counties.
Technical University of Mombasa stole the show after showcasing a short documentary titled Uncelebrated Heroes on Kenya's War on Climate Change which emerged best documentary 2nd Place category. The team leader Peter Barack, a former student of TUM who pursued a Bachelor of Broadcast Journalism (BBJ) took home 100 Euros for the exemplary work.
The following TUM students and staff were involved in producing the documentary:
Dr Victor Lutsili from Communication Studies Department (Director); Peter Barack, former student (Deputy Director and doubling as the Narrator); Ms Lydia Nasambu from Communication Studies Department (Technical Operations); James Kazungu, Mitchel Mwangi, Ian Kiptoo, Peter Barrack all students from the Department of Communication Studies (handling Videography).
Others involved included: Susan Adimola and Beryl Odhiambo, both students from the Department of Communication Studies (handling Research and Interviews of the documentary, respectively).
The Best Overall Short Film titled Moro wa Mepoho went to Fahari Mazera. He was awarded 150 Euros. Best Documentary Film winner 1st Place was Joseph Tuva whose film title was singing away shadows.
Best Short Film with Local Content 1st place category went John Tsuma Mumba who presented a play titled Chirindo. The works addressed sexual abuse among young girls in the Mijikenda community. Mumba took home 150 Euros for it.
Best Short Film Second place category went to Rashid Juma whose film Wavuvi Sitini (which means 60 fishermen) addressed ocean pollution and how it affects fishermen. He won 100 Euros.
The best animation film went to Fahari Mumba. It was titled Moro wa Mipoho, and it won him 150 euros. As for Best Documentary Film with sports content, Amani Karisa with his My Basketball Journey carried the day and took home 150 euros.
Ben Banda who presented a film titled Halfway There won 50 euros, while Mbogo Boniface with his documentary The Waatha of Arabuko Sokoke also won 50 Euros.
Mohammed Alanya won 25 euros for his short film Usia. Closing the curtain but not the least was Kiragu Chan with his short film Women and Dogs that won 25 Euros.
Key dignitaries who graced the occasion were Prof Laila Abubakar, Vice Chancellor Technical University of Mombasa; Prof Aleksandra Lukaszewic from Poland; Chief Officer, Kilifi County Government in charge of Gender Culture and Social Services Ms Agneta Karembo; and Mombasa County Director of Culture and Heritage Development Mr Simon Mbaro, Ms Jedidah Mwikali who represented CEO of Kenya Film Commision, Mr Pawel Pijanowski a representative from the Polish Embassy among others.
Prof Laila lauded the young generation for taking art seriously. She emphasized that many young people in Coast region are talented and should explore all their God-given talents to make a decent living.
Her counterpart Prof Aleksandra said the Poland Government is willing to support those who have ideas in film production to make them a reality.
Ms Karembo revealed that this year, Kilifi County will organize the first Film festival to encourage young people to take art and culture as a Business.
Such sentiments were echoed by Mr Mbaro who insisted that Mombasa County will also follow suit shortly.
