Born in Nairobi, Wanuri is part of the new generation of African filmmakers. Her films have received international acclaim and have screened in over 100 film festivals around the world. To date, Wanuri has written and directed six films and is working on her second feature length film. She currently lives with her partner and two children in Nairobi.
Wanuri’s first feature film FROM A WHISPER, based on the real events surrounding the 1998 twin bombings of US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania won Best Narrative Feature in 2010 at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, as well as five awards at the African Movie Academy Award, including Best Director and Best Screenplay.
In 2009 Wanuri produced TV documentary FOR OUR LAND about Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Wangari Maathai for MNET, a pan African cable station. In 2010, her short science fiction PUMZI premiered at SUNDANCE film festival and went on to win best short film at Cannes Independent Film Festival and the silver at Carthage Film Festival (Tunisia). PUMZI also earned Wanuri the ‘Citta di Venezia 2010’ award in Venice, Italy. She is currently in post production on a feature length documentary GER about UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Ger Duany and a her second feature film RAFIKI based on the short story “JAMBULA TREE”.
She is the founder of AFROBUBBLEGUM, a media company that supports, creates and commissions fun, fierce and frivolous African art.
Image credit: Courtesy of the artist.
