The sixth edition of the Women in Film Awards (WIFA) took place on Sunday at the Kenya National Theatre, recognizing and celebrating the remarkable contributions of women in the Kenyan film industry. The annual awards aim to highlight the creativity, diversity, and achievements of female filmmakers while fostering a community that uplifts and empowers women in the industry.
Among this year’s standout winners was Sanaipei Tande, who won Best Actress in Film for her exceptional performance. Content creator Celestine Ndinda, popularly known as Wakavinye, was honoured as the Best Digital Content Creator, while young talent Ella Imani took home the award for Best Child Actress.
The awards recognized various professionals across multiple categories, celebrating their behind-the-scenes and on-screen contributions. Linda Dina was named the Most Influential Woman Filmmaker, while Shavlin Wali won the Best Lighting Designer award. Other notable winners included Mkaiwawi Mwakaba for Best Director (Film), June Ndinya for Best Director (TV Drama), and Liana Namunyak, who was named Best Student Director.
Women excelling in technical and production roles were also recognized, including Shirleen Wangari for Best Producer (Film), Margaret Wanjiru Muriithi for Best Producer (TV Drama), and Caroline Ngunjiri for Best Producer (Documentary). Lydia Mugure received the Best Animator award, highlighting the growing influence of women in animation and digital storytelling.
The WIFA awards serve as a platform to acknowledge the immense talent within the Kenyan film industry and to encourage more women to pursue careers in various aspects of filmmaking. By celebrating accomplishments across diverse categories such as cinematography, scriptwriting, editing, and production management, the event underscores the importance of women’s voices in storytelling and filmmaking.
As the film industry continues to evolve, events like WIFA play a crucial role in promoting gender inclusivity and providing much-needed recognition for women in film. The continued support for female filmmakers is expected to inspire a new generation of storytellers who will further shape Kenya’s cinematic landscape.
