Filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu’s sci-fi film 'Pumzi' is being screened at this year’s Sundance Film Festival as part of its New African Cinema Programme.
This being Kenya’s first science fiction film, we hope it will make a big impression on the audiences at the festival.
Pumzi will play a total of five times at the Sundance Festival in Utah. The festival started on Friday and ends this Saturday.
The 29-minute film is about survivors of an ecological devastation, living in a controlled environment, the Maitu Community. Since they believe there is no life outside, no one is allowed to leave. But a young woman, Asha(being directed by Wanuri above), who is in possession of a germinating seed struggles against the governing council to plant the precious seedling on Earth’s ruined surface.
The short film was made with grant money from Focus Feature’s Africa First short film programme, the Goethe Institute and the Changamoto Arts Fund.
Mentors from Focus Features introduced Kahiu to South African producers, including Simon Hansen, who worked with Neil Blomkamp, the director of the controversial sci-fi hit District 9.
In a recent interview with Wired.com Kahiu revealed that she has future plans to expand Pumzi to a feature length as well as nurturing her local film community.
“I would like to work and build an industry, so that everyone walks away well-paid, with great hours,” Kahiu said.
