With an astounding 15 festival selections, 9 nominations and 5 awards, within just 13 weeks from its Premiere, Act of Love has also just won Best Short Film and Best Scriptwriter at the inaugural Mombasa International Film Festival!
To celebrate the achievement, the cast & crew shall be hosting a free screening at The Alchemist in Westlands, on Tuesday 30th January 2024 from 8.00pm -10.00pm, in conjunction with MyMovies.Africa™.  Registration is open and can be done via the link: https://app.mymovies.africa/tickets/act–of–loveÂ
Inspired by the Writer’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 also won Best Short Film at the 9th MASHARIKI African Film Festival held in Kigali – Rwanda, in November 2023; following Runner-up for Best Kenyan Short at the Under Our Skin International Film Festival for Human Rights which was held in Kenya at Nairobi, in November 2023; following-on from winning the People’s Choice Award at the inaugural Sauti Zetu Film Festival in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, in October 2023.
“Act of Love is a Film that makes society acknowledge the ugly side of otherhood”, says Ms. Shelly Gitonga – the now Award-winning Scriptwriter.  “Statistics show that Post-Partum Depression (PPD) affects 10-20% of Women globally; but in Africa, the situation is worse, with 10-32% of Women suffering from PPD.”
“In Kenya, the prevalence of this maternal mental health challenge is reported as 11-13%, affecting the well-being of Mothers, Newborns, Families and Communities”, says Ms. Shirleen Wangari, the now award-winning Producer, at Blackwell Films.  “The condition can impair a mother’s ability to care for her child and, in extreme cases, can lead to post-partum psychosis, suicide or infanticide.”
To-date Act of Love, has also been selected for the prestigious 2023 Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) in Tanzania, 2023 Swahili International Film Festival & Awards in Kenya, 2023 Fragments Festival in the United Kingdom, 2023 Kugoma Film Forum in Mozambique, 2023 Fankeenna Film Festival in Somaliland, 2023 Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC) Film Festival in America, 2023 Global Film Exhibition in America, 2023 Botswana International Film Festival, 2023 Mombasa International Film Festival in Kenya, Kenya Film Commission’s Reel County Film Festival 2024 and 2024 Kitale Film Week pin Kenya!
“We are so Proud of the cast & crew of this beautiful film”, says Ms. Trushna Buddhdev-Patel, co-founder, CEO & content director of YAKWETU™ – the distributor.  “As well as having Act of Love worldwide on our own MyMovies.Africa™”, the film is also now available for licensing to other video on demand (VOD) services, television and non-theatrical opportunities like airlines, so that as many Africans and the diaspora community as possible, can watch this important title.”
“We have also begun special screenings to underserved communities of women and healthcare workers around Kenya and Africa, to raise further awareness and spark conversations for supportive action on post-partum depression, maternal health and mental health”, says Ms. Chloe Genga, impact producer at LightBox Africa.  “And we’re open to collaborating with any partners who share our Vision”.
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 Naomi Mburuh Films, Film Studios and Jenga Leo.
