Overview
The NBO Film Festival is Kenya's leading film festival. Founded in 2017 by filmmaker Mbithi Masya and creative director Sheba Hirst, the festival is a non-profit organization devoted to celebrating African and African diaspora cultures through film, industry engagement, and cultural exchange. The 6th edition ran October 16 to 26, 2025, screening over 26 films from 15-plus countries across three Nairobi venues: Prestige Cinema, Kaloleni Social Hall, and Unseen Nairobi.
NBO Film Festival nurtures a vibrant film culture in Kenya by connecting storytellers to audiences worldwide. In its first three editions, the festival hosted world premieres of major Kenyan films including Lusala (which went on to its international premiere at International Film Festival Rotterdam) and Supa Modo (which won 44 international awards and became Kenya's 2019 Foreign Language Oscar submission, achieving the longest cinema run of any Kenyan film since Nairobi Half Life).
The festival has been featured in the screen edition of Cannes Magazine as one of the festivals to watch globally. The International Film Festival Rotterdam reached out to the NBO team to serve as content scouts for African films, and the team has been invited to the Durban Film Market to establish links with potential partners and collaborators across the continent.
Audience attendance grew from 502 in the first edition (2017) to 2,155 in 2018, and to 3,468 in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted operations. The festival returned to full in-person programming and has since grown its footprint across multiple Nairobi venues.
History
The NBO Film Festival was founded in 2017 by Mbithi Masya, a graphic designer turned filmmaker whose debut feature Kati Kati premiered at Toronto International Film Festival and won the Discovery Award. After Kati Kati screened at festivals worldwide, Masya noted that none of the festivals were in his hometown of Nairobi. He discussed this with creative director Sheba Hirst, and together they created the NBO Film Festival.
The first edition was held in the first half of 2017 at Prestige Plaza Shopping Mall, opening with the Kenyan premiere of Kati Kati. The audience of 502 included filmmakers, directors, actors, and scriptwriters. The second edition (March 27 to April 1, 2018) expanded to include films from across the continent. Three sold-out screenings were all Kenyan: Supa Modo (dir. Likarion Wainaina), Disconnect (dir. Tosh Gitonga), and New Moon (dir. Philipa Ndisi-Herrman). The third edition (2019) featured Lusala (dir. Mugambi Nthiga), which sold out and continued screening after the festival ended due to demand.
The 5th edition (October 17 to 27, 2024) opened with the national premiere of I Am Laikipia, produced by Toni Kamau and directed by Pete Murimi and Daphne Matziaraki. The 6th edition (October 16 to 26, 2025) showcased over 26 films from 15-plus countries, with the jury chaired by acclaimed Kenyan filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu.
Submission Details
Submissions are made through the NBO Film Festival website. The festival introduced a submission fee system in 2025 to support sustainability.
2026 submission fees and deadlines:
- Call for entries opens: March 9, 2026
- Early deadline: March 31, 2026 - Feature Film: $10 / Shorts: $5
- Regular deadline: May 31, 2026 - Feature Film: $20 / Shorts: $10
- Late deadline: July 15, 2026 - Feature Film: $25 / Shorts: $10
- Notification date: September 1, 2026 (for October 2026 festival)
Eligibility requirements:
- Films must have been completed within 18 months of the festival dates
- Films must not have had commercial distribution in Kenya before the festival
- Submission requires: a completed online submission form, a secure online screener (password-protected Vimeo link or similar), at least 3 high-resolution film stills, director's biography and filmography, a director's statement (maximum 500 words), a complete cast and crew list, and a dialogue list with timecodes for non-English language films
- Payment of the submission fee is required
- If a film does not meet eligibility requirements, the submission fee is non-refundable
Contact for submissions:
- Email: submissions@nbofilmfest.com
- Website: nbofilmfest.com
Key Sections
- International Competition - features and shorts competing for the Grand Jury Prize
- Kenyan Film Program - new Kenyan features and shorts, often including world premieres
- East African Panorama - films from Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and neighboring nations
- Shorts, Shorts and Shots - dedicated short film program highlighting African stories from filmmakers across the continent and diaspora
- Documentary Program - nonfiction features, with a focus on Kenyan and African documentary filmmaking
- Vanguard Award - annual award recognizing individual trailblazers who have made exceptional contributions to the African film and television industry
- Industry Engagement - workshops, masterclasses, Q&A sessions, and professional networking events
Past Winners
6th Edition (2025) - Grand Jury Prize:
- Grand Jury Prize - "My Father's Shadow" by Akinola Davies Jr. (Nigeria/UK). The first Nigerian film ever selected for Cannes (Un Certain Regard 2025). The jury, chaired by Wanuri Kahiu, unanimously chose the film for its emotional depth, poetic imagery, and fearless storytelling. The film went on to win Best Director at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) and the Best Performer prize at the Gotham Film Awards for star Sope Dirisu. It was also the UK's Oscar entry for Best International Film and won a BAFTA at the 2026 ceremony. Mubi acquired rights for multiple territories and will release the film theatrically in the U.S. and UK on February 6, 2026.
- Special Mention - "The Dog" - a crime drama recognized by the jury for daring to push the industry further.
In-competition films at NBO 2025: Memories of Princess Mumbi, Promised Sky, The Fisherman, My Father's Shadow, and The Dog.
Opening film: "How to Build a Library" by Maia Lekow and Christopher King, a documentary about the restoration of Nairobi's historic McMillan Memorial Library.
Vanguard Award:
- 2024 (inaugural): Stephen O. Obunde, for exceptional contributions to the African film and television industry.
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
- "Supa Modo" (2018) by Likarion Wainaina - World premiered at NBO Film Festival (2nd edition, 2018). Went on to win 44 international awards and became Kenya's 2019 Foreign Language Oscar submission. Achieved the longest cinema run of any Kenyan film since Nairobi Half Life. Produced by One Fine Day Films and Ginger Ink Films, distributed by Rushlake Media. Screened at major festivals including Berlinale Generation.
- "Lusala" (2019) by Mugambi Nthiga - World premiered at NBO Film Festival (3rd edition, 2019). Sold out screenings and continued at Anga Cinemas due to demand. International premiere at International Film Festival Rotterdam (January 27, 2020). Also screened at Goteborg Film Festival, Toronto Black Film Festival, Montreal International Black Film Festival, and Durban International Film Festival. Streamed on Showmax from December 2020. Produced by One Fine Day Films, distributed by Rushlake Media.
- "Kati Kati" (2016) by Mbithi Masya - Premiered at Toronto International Film Festival, won the Discovery Award. Screened at NBO's inaugural edition as the opening film. The film was co-written by Mugambi Nthiga and established the creative network that would later found NBO Film Festival.
- "My Father's Shadow" (2025) by Akinola Davies Jr. - Grand Jury Prize at NBO 2025. First Nigerian film at Cannes (Un Certain Regard). Won BAFTA at 2026 ceremony, BIFA Best Director, Gotham Best Performer. UK's Oscar entry for Best International Film. Distributed by Mubi.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
NBO's programming priority is African and African diaspora cinema. The festival actively seeks films that explore "textured, layered, ardent expressions of African identities." International films with African themes, co-production connections, or relevance to East African audiences are more likely to be selected than films with no African connection.
The restriction on prior commercial distribution in Kenya is firm. Submit before arranging any Kenyan theatrical or streaming release, or your film will be ineligible. This is a standard premiere-protection requirement that NBO enforces.
The Shorts, Shorts and Shots program is specifically designed for African filmmakers across the continent and diaspora. If you have a short film with African storytelling at its core, this strand is your entry point. The festival combines short film screenings with music and networking events, giving shorts unusual visibility compared to festivals that bury them in sidebar programs.
For Kenyan filmmakers, NBO is the primary domestic platform and has a proven track record of launching films onto the international circuit. The IFFR connection (NBO serves as African content scouts for Rotterdam) means that a strong NBO screening can lead to international festival attention.
Industry Reputation Notes
NBO Film Festival has been featured in Cannes Magazine as a festival to watch globally, which is rare for an African festival outside of FESPACO and Durban. The International Film Festival Rotterdam invited the NBO team to serve as African content scouts, and the team was invited to the Durban Film Market to establish continental partnerships. These connections give NBO unusual downstream influence for a festival of its size.
The festival is not a market. There are no sales agents, no distribution marketplace, and no co-production forums. The industry value lies in the festival's role as a launchpad for African films onto the international circuit, its connection to IFFR's scouting network, and its growing reputation among African diaspora filmmakers.
Compared to the Durban International Film Festival (South Africa), which has a formal market component (Durban FilmMart) and broader international industry reach, NBO is smaller but more focused on East African and Kenyan cinema. Compared to FESPACO (Burkina Faso), NBO is much younger and smaller but has a more curated, quality-over-quantity approach to programming.
For filmmakers with African or diaspora stories seeking East African premiere exposure and potential international circuit traction, NBO is a strong strategic choice. The festival's IFFR scouting relationship is its most distinctive industry asset.
Awards / Accreditation
The festival is not FIAPF-accredited and does not qualify films for Academy Award consideration. It is not an Oscar-qualifying festival.
Award categories:
- Grand Jury Prize - top film in competition (inaugurated 2025)
- Best Film - jury prize (historical)
- Best Kenyan Film - jury prize for the top Kenyan production
- Best East African Film - jury prize for films from the East African region
- Audience Award - selected by festival audience vote
- NBO Film Festival Vanguard Award - recognizes individual trailblazers who have elevated film production standards and accelerated industry growth. Inaugural recipient (2024): Stephen O. Obunde.
What Filmmakers Should Know
For Kenyan filmmakers: NBO is the primary domestic platform for Kenyan cinema. The festival has a track record of launching Kenyan films onto the international circuit: Lusala went from NBO to IFFR, and Supa Modo went from NBO to 44 international awards and an Oscar submission. If you have a Kenyan feature or short, this is your first-choice festival for domestic premiere.
For African filmmakers: The festival actively seeks African stories that explore "textured, layered, ardent expressions of African identities." The Shorts, Shorts and Shots program is specifically designed for African filmmakers across the continent and diaspora. The 2025 edition showcased over 26 films from 15-plus countries, including world premieres, African debuts, and celebrated international titles.
For international filmmakers: NBO accepts international submissions, but the programming priority is African and African diaspora cinema. International films with African themes, co-production connections, or relevance to East African audiences are more likely to be selected. The festival is not a market; it is a cultural and industry engagement platform.
Practical considerations: Nairobi is East Africa's largest city and a major tech and startup hub. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is the region's primary aviation hub with direct flights from London, Amsterdam, Paris, Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, and Addis Ababa. English and Swahili are both official languages. The festival uses multiple venues across Nairobi, so budget for transport between locations.
Watch
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My Father's Shadow (2025) by Akinola Davies Jr. - Grand Jury Prize at NBO 2025, first Nigerian film at Cannes, BAFTA winner, distributed by Mubi
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Supa Modo (2018) by Likarion Wainaina - Premiered at NBO 2018, won 44 international awards, Kenya's Oscar submission
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Kati Kati (2016) by Mbithi Masya - Opened the first NBO Film Festival, TIFF Discovery Award winner
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Lusala (2019) by Mugambi Nthiga - World premiered at NBO 2019, later screened at IFFR and Goteborg
See Also
Use the Festival ROI Calculator to model the total cost of submitting to and attending NBO Film Festival, including submission fees, travel to Nairobi, and accommodation. Use the Festival Acceptance Odds Estimator to assess your likelihood of selection based on film type, runtime, and premiere status. For broader festival strategy, read Film Festival Strategy. For East African cinema context, see International Film Markets. For ZIFF Zanzibar, see Zanzibar International Film Festival.
