Oprah Oyugi
Oprah Oyugi is a multi-faceted filmmaker based in Kenya. She is a writer on Kenya’s first Netflix Original TV Series, Country Queen, and on Igiza, a high-end thriller on Showmax. She was shortlisted for the Netflix-Unesco folktale competition and won the Best Script Writer award at the Women In Film Awards 2022. She co-directed, wrote, and edited Supastaz, a short film which had its international premiere at the Durban International Film Festival in 2022. She runs the production company, Dhamira Films, alongside two other women filmmakers. Oprah enjoys telling stories that exist within the grey areas of life.
Simiyu Barasa
Simiyu Barasa is an award-winning Screenwriter/Director for Film and TV. His awards include Best Director, Best Film and Best Screenwriter for ‘Family Meeting’ at the 2020 Coast Film Festival and Best Feature Film for’ ‘Kizingo’ at the 2017 Riverwood Awards. His TV credits include writer for ‘Maria’, ‘Tahidi High’ and Makutano Junction (Citizen TV) and the Kalasha 20°13 Best Drama series ‘Lies that bind’ (KTN). He has been part of several judging panels including the African Movies Academy Awards (AMAA) 2011, Kalasha International Film Festival 2021, Coast Film Festival 2021, Machawood Short Films Festival and has served as an adjudicator in the nationals for the Kenya Universities Performing Arts and Film Association (KUPAA). He is also an avid mountaineer.
Joan Kabugu
Joan Kabugu is the founder of Ecila Films, a production house that creates authentic African content. Some of her directorial works include the political film ‘Madam Chief’ that was showcased across Africa, social comedy ‘Marikiti Women’ and several environmental documentaries. She has received several nominations and awards including the $10,000 award in Stanchat's Women in Tech 2021 competition for storytelling for entrepreneurs, Winner of Mofilm 2016 Competition for about Richard Turere’s ‘Lion Lights’ and awards for her short ‘It’s all a game’ produced during lockdown. She is also a 2018 Obama Leader, aKoma Africa Fellow and Yali Fellow. Her ongoing web-series ‘Innovative Minds’ showcases entrepreneurs' mind-boggling business ideas.
Gilbert Lukalia
Gilbert Lukalia is a Performing Artist majoring in stage and film acting and directing. He has acted and directed award-winning feature films and TV series in Kenya including ‘Mission to Rescue’, ‘Shattered’, ‘Pray and Prey’, ‘Lost in Africa’ and ‘The First Grader’. He also directed the 2014 Kalasha Award winner ‘Strength of a Woman’. ‘Mission to Rescue’ was selected as the 2021 Kenyan entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards. He has also acted in Strata, Soul Boy (2010) and Kidnappet (2010).