Lola Kenya Children's Screen - Award Winners

Award Winners

Winners of the Golden Mboni for the best children’s films have included Belgian Vincent Bruno’s Le Maillot de Cristiano (Cristiano Ronaldo's Shirt, 2011), Nigerian Mak Kusare’s Champions of Our Time (2010), Italian Marco Gianfreda’s Io Parlo (I'll Tell on You, 2009), Swedish Peter Naess’s Hoppet (Leaps and Bounds, 2008), Israeli Itai Lev’s Giborim Kitanin (2007), and Ukrainian Koval Stepan’s Zlydni (2006).

Winners of the 14-Plus Award for the best youth film, a prize introduced in 2009 out of recognition that the festival was growing and catered to both children and youth, are Madagascan Mamihasina Raminosoa and Andriamanisa Radoniaina’s Dzaomalaza et le Saphir Bleu (Dzaomalaza and the Blue Sapphire, 2011), Malawian Charles Shemu Joyah’s Seasons of a Life (2010), and South African Minky Schlesinger’s Ugugu no Andile (Gugu and Andile, 2009).

The Best Animation Award has gone to Gamba Trista (Loser Leg) by Francesco Filippi of Italy (2011), Lost and Found by Philip Hunt of the United Kingdom (2010), which also won the Silver Mboni Award for the second best children's film and the Audience's Choice Award, Zlamana Pieczpc (The Broken Seal) by Pawel Czarzasty of Poland (2009), Max's Words by Galen Fott and Jerry Hunt of the United States (2008), and More, Strycku, and Proc Je Slane? (The Sea, Uncle, Why Is It Salty?) by Jan Balej of the Czech Republic (2007).

Zlamana Pieczpc by Pawel Czarzasty and Ksiezycowa Kraina (Lunar Land) by Andrzej Kukula, both of Poland, won the Best TV Series Award and the Best Animation Film Award, respectively, in 2009. Another Polish production, Magiczne Drzewo (The Magic Tree) by Andrzej Maleszka won the 2010 Best TV Series Award.

Winners of the Best Student Film Award have included Jutro (Tomorrow) by Bartosz Kruhlik of Poland (2011), Great Expectations by Alexei Gubenco of Romania (2010), Elephants by Sally Pearce of the United Kingdom (2009), and Vika by Tsivia Barkai of Israel (2006).

Among others, the Best Documentary Film Award has gone to Paradiso by Italian Alessandro Negrini, working in Northern Ireland (2011), Big Sister Punam by Serbian Lucian and Natasa Muntean (2010), A Beautiful Tragedy by Norway-based David Kinsella of the UK (2009), which also took the 14-Plus Award for the second best youth film, and Journey of a Red Fridge by Lucian Muntean and Natasa Stankovic of Serbia (2008).

Other winners have included US-based Palestinian Cherien Dabis's Itmana (Best Experimental Film prize, 2006), Porque Hay Casa Que Nunca Se Olvidan (Because There Are Things You Never Forget) by Lucas Figueroa of Spain (Best Short Film, 2008), Bayelsan Silhouettes by Communicating for Change, based in Nigeria (Special Youth Prize in 2010), Bloody Footy by Dean Chircop of Australia (Audience's Choice Award, 2007), Zebu and the Photofish by Kenyan Zipporah Nyaruri (Best Kenyan Film, 2011), Vorstadtkrokodile (The Crocodiles) by German Christian Ditter (Silver Mboni Award for the second best children's film, 2010), El Regala de la Pachamama (The Gift of Pachamama) by Matsushita Toshifumi of the United States (The Child Rights Prize, 2009), The Happy Duckling by Israeli Gili Dolev (Silver Mboni Award for the second best children's film, 2009), Winning Streak by Marc de Launay of the United Kingdom (Silver Mboni Award for the second best children's film, 2006), From a Whisper by Wanuri Kahiu of Kenya (14-Plus Award for the Third Best Youth Film, 2009), Pamela by Kenyan James Kanja (Bronze Mboni for the third best children's film,2009 ), Subira by Ravneet Chadha of India/Kenya (Bronze Mboni for the third best children's film, 2008), Real Saharawi by Caroline Kamya of Uganda (Best Eastern Africa Film, 2007), Kibera Kid by Kenya-based Nathan Collett of the United States (Best Kenyan Children's Film, 2006), and We Were Young by Philippe Talavera of Namibia (14-Plus Award for the Second Best Youth Film, 2010).

Spanish films dominated the awards list in the 6th Lola Kenya Screen in 2011. The Silver Mboni for the second best children’s film went to Pizzangrillo (Lighthearted Boy) by Marco Gianfreda of Italy, and the Bronze Mboni for the third best children’s film went to Volterata (Somersault) by Alex Morante of Spain, which also won the Most Experimental Film prize. La Playa de Berlin (Cannon Beach) by Manuel Calvo of Spain won the 14-Plus Award for the second best youth film, and Mi Otra Mitad (My Other Half) by Beatriz Sanchis, also of Spain, took the 14-Plus Award for the third best youth film. Other winners included Mute by Muayad Alayan of Palestine (Best Children’s Rights Film). The Ombetja Yehinga Organisation headed by Philippe Talavera of Namibia wone a Special Youth Prize for their three films Sex and Chocolate, Teddy Bear Love and Make a Move. The 14-Plus Award Special Commendation went to Bizzaire by Kenyan Martin Ndichu. Serbians Lucian and Natasa Muntean received the Best Documentary Special Commendation award for Mbaabu and the Mountains of the Moon. The 5th Kids for Kids Festival Africa Prize was shared by Kenyan productions Monsters of the New Age by Brian Saruni and Vanessa's Dream by Adede Hawi and Daki Mohammed.