With an impressive 21 Festival Selections, 26 Nominations and 11 awards within two years from its premiere, Act of Love continues to attract audiences globally.
On Friday November 7, 2025, from 8.00pm, Act of Love will be screened at Kenya Cinema Week 2025, at RichMix Cinema in London, United Kingdom.
“This is more than just a film festival, it is a cultural milestone,” said Mr. 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.”
Inspired by the writer – Shelly Gitonga’s true story, Act of Love (16+) is a moving short film, set in Nairobi, about Juliana (Mwixx Mutinda) – a young mother who holds on to sanity by a thread as her world is turned upside-down in search of a livelihood.
“Act of Love is a film that makes society acknowledge the ugly side of motherhood”, says Ms. Shelly Gitonga – the award-winning scriptwriter.
“Statistics show that Post-Partum Depression affects 10-20% of women globally; but in Africa, the situation is worse, with up to 32% of women suffering from PPD,” she added.
“In Kenya, the prevalence of maternal mental health challenges of PPD is reported as 11-13%, affecting the well-being of mothers, newborns, families and communities”, says Mr. Erick Mwangi, the award-winning director for Act of Love at Ripple Productions.
“This condition can impair a mother’s ability to care for her child and, in extreme cases, can Lead to post-partum psychosis, suicide and/or Infanticide”, says Ms. Shirleen Wangari, award-winning producer at Blackwell Films. “Therefore, Act of Love is such an important film, that is currently breaking the silence on post-partum depression in Kenya and Africa.”
Since its premiere in October 2023, Act of Love has Won Best Lighting, Best Editing and Best Sound Design at the 13th KALASHA International Film & TV Awards in Kenya, during March 2024; the Nile Grand Prize for Best Short Film, at the 13th Luxor African Film Festival in Egypt, during February 2024;
Other awards include: Best Short Film and Best Scriptwriter at the 1st Mombasa International Film Festival; Best Short Film at the 9th MASHARIKI African Film Festival in Kigali – Rwanda; Runner-up for Best Kenyan Short at the Under Our Skin International Film Festival for Human Rights in Kenya and the People’s Choice Award at the inaugural Sauti Zetu Film Festival in Dar-es-Salaam – Tanzania.
Act of Love was produced by Blackwell Films, in conjunction with Ripple Productions, through funding by Some Fine Day Pix, GIZ, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation & Development of Germany and DocuBox East Africa Fund; with support from Naomi Mburuh Films, Film Studios and Jenga Leo.
At Kenya Cinema Week, Act of Love shall screen alongside Makosa Ni Yangu from Philit Productions, written by renowned storyteller Abel Mutua.
On Saturday, the programme continues with Once Upon a Maybel – a feature film by Cliff Webster, and concludes with the heartfelt drama Checkmate by Buda Boss.
