Living through Change: 3rd Edition of Vuka Film Festival and Launch of Africa Media Innovation Lab
The 3rd edition of the Vuka Film Festival awards and Launch of the Africa Media Innovation Lab (AMILab) held on 4th June, 2026 was marked with pomp and colour. The Awards Ceremony was held on the 3rd and last day of the festival. The first two days were for film showcasing and academy. The academy saw keynote presentations, roundtable discussions by industry experts and government agency representatives.
This year's theme, 'Living through change was focussed on Climate Change, Community and Culture' saw final year students producing short films on resilience and solutions from different communities mitigating challenges due to climate change.
Yvonne Mueni Nzisa, was announced overall winner of the 3rd edition of Vuka film festival. Hunan TV, who were the main sponsors of the event awarded her with Kshs. 10,000 and an immediate enrollment to the Africa Media Innovation Lab for a two-week mentorship and incubation session.
Anastacia Kiragu and Wendy Isendi tied in 1st runner up, while Peter Shako and Patience Adika tied in 2nd runner- up and they won Kshs. 5,000 each. There were 17 categories of awards in general.
The three-day film festival was characterized by 70 short films and keynote presentations from various industry players that shared insights and their experiences from film making industry.
Hunan TV screened films concurrently and Infinix Kenya ran a competition in support of the vuka film festival.
The UoN VC, Prof. Ayub Gitau who was represented by the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Prof. Jack Odhiambo encouraged the students to keep telling the African authentic stories; he noted that, 'The global audience is ready for authentic African stories. And who better to tell those stories than us?'
He affirmed the industry, that the University is committed to producing holistic graduates, ready for work.
The VC announced and launched the Africa Media Innovation Lab (AMILab); and announced that the innovations from 7 student winners will get an opportunity to be incubated.
While the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, also reaffirmed the place of Art in today's emerging issues, he corrected, 'It is STEAM and not STEM as it has been alluded to several times that keeps the world moving. He also encouraged the students to not sever the ties that they have with the University. He noted, 'Once a student of the University of Nairobi, always a student of the UoN'
The Director of the office that handles Intellectual Property Management Office, Prof. Maina Wagacha, expressed the importance of protecting these innovative creative ideas and announced to the audience the available resources that the University has and helps all those associated with the institiution.
On his part, Mr. John Orindi, the Director, Corporate Affairs, appreciated and applauded the partners that partnered with the Vuka Film festival, He mentioned that Xinhua News Agency was providing international coverage, F3 Global; Ndoto Imara Initiative, Labtech, Infinix Kenya and he encouraged the partners to walk with academia to offer mentorship and strengthen the academia-industry linkage.
Dr. Ogutu Oiye, the Coordinator of the Vuka Film Festival, The Chair of the Department, Prof. Silas Oriaso, The Department's Post-graduate coordinator, Dr. Kamau Mwangi and the BA Coordinator, Dr. Samuel Gathigi also spoke during the awards ceremony.
Vuka film festival was started in 2024, as a showcase of final year film projects. The showcase created a platform for industry players, government and, government agencies to deliberate on the film making and creative industry landscape in Kenya.
The short films can be accessed through the UNC TV Youtube channel later.
