African Film Fest x Sanaa Movie Night

Thursday 12th March

6PM to 8:00PM

Feature Film: NAWI

Thirteen-year-old Nawi is being forced to marry a much older stranger in exchange for a herd of goats. Her story is about what happens when a girl decides not to follow the path chosen for her - and the cost of saying no. NAWI exposes the brutal impact of child marriages, how they cut short education and steal away futures. It’s not just a film - it’s a way to experience what this looks like, up close. And why we need to fight for change.

  • Winner Best Film at Novi Sad Film Festival / Serbia

  • Winner Audience Award at Stony Brooks Festival NY / US

  • Winner Best Cinematography Kitale Film Week / Kenya

  • Winner Audience Award International Filmfestival Gorinchem / Netherlands

  • Winner Best Feature Stockholm International Film Festival Junior / Sweden

  • Winner Best Film at Eurasia Kinofest / Russia

  • Winner Global sustainability Film Award (By BAFTA) / UK

  • Winner Best Feature Spirit of Fire Awards / Russia

  • Winner Audience Award Filmweekend Wuerzburg / Germany

  • Winner Youth Jury Award and Audience Award at Films by the Sea / Netherlands

NAWI is based on true events, on the winning story of a nationwide writing competition by Kenyan teen counsellor Milcah Cherotich. It has been selected as Kenya’s official Oscar entry 2025, won an Africa Academy Award as well as multiple other international awards, including at Raindance in London, at the Beijing International Film Festival and the LA-based Pan African Film Fest. In theatres Across North America on March 6 , 2026.

Awards

Winner Africa Academy Award for our Lead Actress (We had five nominations in total)

  • Winner Best Feature and Best Debut Perfomance at Raindance / UK

  • Winner Special Jury Award Beijing International Film Festival (Tiantan Awards) / China

  • Winner Best Feature Pan Africa Film Festival LA / US

  • Winner German Film Award for Peace / Germany

  • Winner Youth Jury Award 65th Zlin Film Festival / Czech Republic

  • Winner Audience Award Fribourg International Filmfestival / Switzerland

Winner Best Film at DaVinci International Film Festival / US

  • Winner Best Film, Best Cinematography and Best Acting at Pigeon International Film Festival / Iceland

  • Winner Best Teen Film at Kineko / Japan

  • Winner Best Film at Ateker International Film Festival / Kenya

  • Winner Best Female Performance at AFRIFF / Nigeria

  • Winner Best Educational Film at Cinemafricano / Italy

  • Winner Audience Award 013 Cinecitta / Netherlands

  • Winner Best Independent Film at Hollywood Africa Prestigious Awards / US