Cheza, a musical comedy film done by the 2022 East African cohort of the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), has won Best Student Feature Film at the 12th edition of the Kalasha Film and Television Awards.
The MTF alumni also won the Best International Award.
This year, MTF had 5 nominations: Best Student Feature Film (Cheza); Best Student Feature Film (Stinger by Class of 2022); Best Animation (En Okumba by MTF Alumni); Best Student Documentary (My Little Warrior by MTF Alumni); and Best International Award (Still Okay To Date by an alumnus from Class of 2020).
Cheza, produced by the MTF Academy Class of 2022, won the Best Student Film Award, while the film Still Okay To Date, produced by MTF 2020 alumni, won the Best International Award.
East Africa’s first musical comedy, Cheza explores the life of struggling musician, Khana.
The Kalasha Awards have rewarded exceptional talent in Kenya’s film and TV industry for over a decade and are organized by the Kenya Film Commission. Held annually in Nairobi, this year marks 12 years of celebrating and awarding outstanding visual creativity in the country, including in production and post-production.
The awards garnered by this year’s MTF Academy students signify the opportunities that come with hard work and talent, of which MTF is proud to have a hand in.
“We’re incredibly proud of the MTF students for their award-winning work, and the very important role that the Kalasha Awards continue to play when it comes to honoring East African talent in film and TV,” says MTF Director for Africa Nwabisa Matyumza.
“I am extremely proud of the winning and nominated films. It was a pleasure to see the students work on producing these films and it’s an even greater privilege to see their efforts being awarded. We can’t wait to see what you will do next,” says East Africa Academy Director Victoria Goro.
The MTF East Africa Academy has previously won Kalasha Awards, including Best Production Design for the 2019 MTF Academy student film Ensulo, and Best International Award for the 2020 student film EGNA.
Cheza will be airing on DStv’s, Maisha Magic Movies channel on December 17 at 16:30 (EAT).
