Supa Modo
| Supa Modo | |
|---|---|
Film poster | |
| Directed by | Likarion Wainaina |
| Written by | Silas Miami Mugambi Nthiga Wanjeri Gakuru Kamau Wa Ndung'u Likarion Wainaina |
| Story by | Likarion Wainaina |
| Produced by | Sarika Hemi Lakhani Marie Steinmann-Tykwer Tom Tykwer Ginger Wilson Guy Wilson |
| Starring | Stycie Waweru Maryanne Nungo Nyawara Ndambia |
| Cinematography | Enos Olik Volker Tittel |
| Edited by | Christian Krämer Charity Kuria |
| Music by | Sean Peevers |
Production companies | Festival Agency Neaniko Plano Rushlake Media |
| Distributed by | Juno Films rigon-film Sächsischer Kinder- und Jugendfilmdienst Stowarzyszenie Nowe Horyzonty Neaniko Plano The Criterion Channel El Sur Films Filmcentrum Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 74 minutes |
| Countries | Kenya Germany |
| Languages | Swahili Kikuyu English |
| Budget | €250,000 |
Supa Modo is a 2018 internationally co-produced drama film directed by Likarion Wainaina.[1] It first premiered at 68th Berlin International Film Festival.[2] It was selected as the Kenyan entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[3][4]
Plot
Jo is a young girl living in a small village in Kenya. It is her dream to become a super-hero, but unfortunately these ambitions are hindered by her impending terminal illness. The whole village is plotting a genius plan with the goal to make her wish come true.
Background
Supa Modo was produced as part of the One Fine Day Films workshop-project, which gives African filmmakers the opportunity to learn from mentors and create their stories for an international audience.[5] The project was founded by Tom Tykwer and Marie Steinmann. Other movies resulting from this workshop include Kati Kati, Nairobi Half Life, Something Necessary and Soul Boy.[6]
Cast
- Stycie Waweru as Jo
- Akinyi Marianne as Kathryn
- Nyawara Ndambia as Mwix
- Johnson Gitau Chege as Mike
- Humphrey Maina as Pato
- Joseph Omari as Chairman
- Rita Njenga as Nyanya
- Dinah Githinji as Anne
- Nellex Nderitu as Titus
- Edna Daisy Nguka as Josephine
- Peris Wambui as Caro
- Mercy Kariuki as Soni
- Cindy Kahura as Halima
- Nick Mwathi as Villager 1
- Muriithi Mwangi as Villager 2
- Martin Nyakabete as Villager 3
- Joseph Wairimu as Rico
- Isaya Evans as Hospital Orderly
- Manuel Sierbert as Doctor
- Michael Bahati as Njuguna
- Meshack Omondi as Brayo
- Elsie Wairimy as Charlo
- John Gathinya as Ozil
- Francis Githinji as Toni
- Jubilant Elijah as Kush
- Euphine Akoth Odhiambo as Football player
- Mary Njeri Mwangi as Football player
- Benedict Musau as Football player
- Yu Long Hu as Kung fu fighter
- Biqun Su as Kung fu fighter
- Likarion Wainaina as Thief in a motorcycle
Release
The movie had its world premiere at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival in the category "Generations".[7]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Berlin International Film Festival | Generation Kplus - Best Film | Supa Modo | Nominated | |
| Generation Kplus - Best Feature Film | Won | ||||
| 2018 | Edinburgh International Film Festival | Best International Feature Film | Nominated | ||
| Best International Feature Film - Special Mention | Won | ||||
| 2018 | Carrousel International du Film | Best Feature | Won | ||
| 2018 | Emden International Film Festival | Best Film - SCORE Bernhard Wicki Award | Won | ||
| AOK Film Award | Won | ||||
| 2018 | Hamburg Film Festival | Micheal Award | Won | ||
| 2018 | Molodist Kyiv International Film Festival | Teen Screen Competition - Special Jury Diploma | Won | ||
| Teen Screen Competition - Scythian Deer | Nominated | ||||
| 2019 | Palm Springs International Film Festival | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated | ||
| 2019 | Portland International Film Festival | Best of Films for Families | Won | ||
| 2018 | Seattle International Film Festival | New Directors Competition | Likarion Wainaina | Nominated | |
| Best Film - Golden Space Needle Award | Supa Modo | Nominated | |||
| Best Film - Films4Families Youth Jury Award | Nominated | ||||
| 2018 | Zlín International Film Festival for Children and Youth | Best feature Film for Children | Won | ||
| Ecumenical Jury Award | Won | ||||
| 2018 | Cinekid | Youth Jury Award | Won | ||
| 2018 | Ale Kino! - International Young Audience Film Festival | Young People's Jury Award | Won | ||
| Arthouse Cinemas Network Award | Won | ||||
| 2018 | Zanzibar International Film Festival | Best Feature Film | Won | ||
| Best Film from East Africa | Won | ||||
| 2018 | Carthage Film Festival | Narrative Feature Film | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
| 2018 | Kristiansand International Children's Film Festival | EFCA Award | Likarion Wainaina | Won | |
| 2018 | Durban International Film Festival | Artistic Bravery Prize | Supa Modo | Won | |
| Best Film - International Competition | Nominated | ||||
| 2018 | Minneapolis St. Paul international Film Festival | Youth Jury Award | Won | ||
| 2018 | Black Film Festival Montreal | Best Narrative Feature | Won | ||
| 2018 | Minsk International Film Festival “Listapad” | Best Film | Won | ||
| Best Film for Children and Youth | Won | ||||
| 2018 | Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards | Best indigenous language Movie/Tv series in Swahili | Won | ||
| 2018 | Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People | Best Feature Film | Won | ||
| Best Feature Film Screenplay | Mugambi Nthiga | Won | |||
| Hellenic Parliament Award | Supa Modo | Won | |||
| 2019 | ECFA Award | Won | |||
| 2019 | Cinema Public Festival Cine Junior | Young Jury's Prize | Won | ||
| 2019 | Cinema Public Festival Cine Junior | Grain à Démoudre Award | Won | ||
| CICAE Award | Won | ||||
| 2018 | Jozi Film Festival | Audience Choice Award | Won | ||
| 2018 | Cinetopia Film Festival | Foreign Narrative - Audience Award | Won | ||
| 2018 | International Film Festival for Children and Young Audience SCHLiNGEL | Best National Feature Film - DEFA Foundation Award | Won | ||
| Best national feature Film - Children's and Youth Film Award of the Goethe-Instut | Won | ||||
| 2018 | Dytiatko International Children TV Festival | Best Director | Likarion Wainaina | Won | |
| 2018 | Cape Town International Film Market and Festival | Best New Director | Won | ||
| 2018 | Kalasha International Film and TV Awards | Best Production Designer | Neha Manoj Shah | Won | |
| Best Lead Actor Film | Johnson Gitau Chege | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actress Film | Marrianne Nungo | Won | |||
| Best Screenplay | Mugambi Nthiga | Won | |||
| Best Picture | Ginger Wilson | Nominated | |||
| Best Director | Likarion Wainaina | Nominated | |||
| Best Lead Actress Film | Stycie Waweru | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematography | Enos Olik | Nominated | |||
| Best Local Language Film | Ginger Wilson | Nominated | |||
| 2018 | Kino W Trampkach (Cinema in Sneakers Film Festival for Children and Youth) | Best Children's Film - Special Mention Jury | Supa Modo | Won | |
| 2019 | Children's Film Festival Seattle | Audience Award | Won | ||
| Fantastic Foxes Jury Prize | Won | ||||
| Iron Giants Jury Prize | Won |
See also
- List of Afrofuturist films
- List of submissions to the 91st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Kenyan submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
References
- ^ Vourlias, Christopher (26 October 2017). "Discop Africa: Rushlake Media Acquires 'Supa Modo' From Tom Tykwer's One Fine Day Films". Variety. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "| Berlinale | Press | Press Releases | All Press Releases - Generation 2018: On true fairy tales and magical realities". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ Musyoka, Michael (28 September 2018). "Supa Modo is Kenya's Submission to Oscars, Rafiki Loses Out". Kenyans.co.ke. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ Vourlias, Christopher (28 September 2018). "Kenya Picks Berlinale Crowd-Pleaser 'Supa Modo' as Its Oscar Hopeful". Variety. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ "First-time producers on set to shoot 'Super Modo' film". Daily Nation. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "onefinedayfilms". onefinedayfilms (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Tom Tykwer presents superhero film from Kenya "Supa Modo"". Deutsche Welle. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- Miami, Silas (10 June 2020). "#KEDeserveBetter". Twitter. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- Media, The Standard. "Inside murky waters of the Kenyan Film Industry". The Standard Entertainment. Retrieved 19 July 2020.