All eyes turn to London this November as Kenya’s short film Act Of Love takes center stage at Kenya Cinema Week 2025 screening on Friday, November 7, at RichMix Cinema
The London showcase marks yet another milestone in the film’s extraordinary journey, following 21 festival selections, 26 nominations, and 11 international awards within just two years of its premiere.
“This is more than just a film festival, it’s a cultural milestone,” said Sidney Sambu, Co-Founder of Kenya Cinema Week. “For the first time, European audiences will experience the rich narratives, talent, and creativity of Kenyan filmmakers.”
Written by Shelly Gitonga and inspired by her true story, Act Of Love is a hauntingly powerful drama set in Nairobi.
It follows Juliana, played by Mwixx Mutinda, a young mother struggling to stay afloat as her life unravels in the face of poverty and mental anguish.
The film boldly confronts the often-unspoken realities of postpartum depression (PPD), a mental health condition affecting new mothers that remains largely stigmatized across African societies.
“Act Of Love is a film that makes society acknowledge the ugly side of motherhood,” said Gitonga, the award-winning scriptwriter. “Statistics show that postpartum depression affects between 10 and 20 percent of women globally; but in Africa, the numbers can rise to as high as two percent.”
Producer Shirleen Wangari, of Blackwell Films, says the project’s mission goes beyond storytelling, it is about advocacy and awareness.
“This condition can impair a mother’s ability to care for her child and, in extreme cases, can lead to postpartum psychosis, suicide, or even infanticide,” Wangari explained. “That’s why Act Of Love is such an important film. It’s breaking the silence around postpartum depression in Kenya and across Africa.”
The short film’s raw emotional power and fearless storytelling have earned it praise at festivals around the world, where audiences and critics alike have described it as both visually poetic and socially urgent.
The film was produced by Blackwell Films in collaboration with Ripple Productions, with support and funding from Some Fine Day Pix, GIZ, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, and the DocuBox East Africa Fund.
The Kenya Cinema Week London edition will feature a lineup of powerful Kenyan films. Alongside Act Of Love, audiences will enjoy “Makosa Ni Yangu” from Philit Productions, written by popular storyteller Abel Mutua.
Saturday’s screenings include “Once Upon A Maybel” by Cliff Webster, followed by the emotional drama “Checkmate” by Buda Boss, rounding off a weekend of rich Kenyan storytelling.
“This event gives Kenyan filmmakers a global platform,” Sambu noted. “It’s a moment of pride for our film industry and a testament to the growing global appetite for authentic African narratives.”