Students shock parents & teachers with beautiful talent at the film festival

All the roads were leading to the Tafaria Castle & Center for the Arts as the Kenya Schools and Colleges Film Festival 2022 entered its second day.

School buses ferrying students and teachers from colleges, polytechnics, secondary and primary schools made a beeline to the venue from 7:30am.

“Today we received many students from various colleges and other learning institutions who came for this event… which is great for this festival today and even tomorrow,” one of the organizers, Herman Mwangi of Viusasa/CAL said.

“As organizers we are happy that the event is living to its promise, but we are still inviting Kenyans to come and share in this beautiful experience with the rest,” he said.

Teachers – under whose guidance and tutelage most of these films were produced were at the scene to witness as the judges put their work on the weighing scale.

One could see – and feel their smile broaden as their beautiful work took over the giant screens.

A few giggles – here and there – could be heard from the student seating at the amphitheater whenever a familiar face or voice hit the screen.

A beautiful experience no doubt.

“I am happy that our students can congregate here to showcase their talent in film. This is a good platform for them to point at the ills of the society from their lenses as student’s trough acting – and go ahead to propose solutions,” said State House Girls High School Principal Evelyn Nabukwesi.

“This is a good way to nature talent because it is strictly competency based and quite practical. The learners can learn from each other, and teach each other. In fact, I have learned a lot as a teacher today from these students,” she added.

The day saw schools come from different parts of Kenya, some from the furthest end of the country – others from the neighborhood.

“I just brought the students to see and learn. Our school did not submit entries, but we hope to do that in the next years’ event. I must say that our students have learned a lot here today,” Shalom Canaan secondary Board Chairperson Betty Guchu said.

Others were coming from the first time – like Gategi Girls secondary school from the Aberdare region.

“It is our first time to bring our children to this event, but it is wonderful and we would love to come again in the future,” said drama teacher Madam Mercy Riungu.

A total of 36 film submissions were screened on the second day of the event with submissions from a near similar number of schools.

The schools whose films were screened on the second day were:

Nyeri Polytechnic, Mombasa Aviation, Embu College, Nyeri Polytechnic, Mukurwe TTI, Ikomero Primary School, Mukutano Central Academy, Ngenda Primary school, Makini School – Kisumu, Kayole Primary School, Kanyariri Primary school, Makutano Central Academy, St. Irene Primary School, Chidzumu Primary school, Kiambu Primary school, Chantily School, Aga Khan Primary School, Kisumu, Gilgil Hills Academy, Kayole 1 Primary school, Nairobi Primary school, Elimu Primary school, St. James Nguruka Primary School, Kibirigwi Girls’ High school, Kibiru Girls High school, King’ong’o secondary school, Gategi Girls High School, Kedowa Special School, Mama Ngina Girls’ Secondary School, Sacred Heart Lunya Girls’ High School, Maweni Secondary School, Kerugoya Boys’ High School, Moi Girls’ Kamusinga , Mtaa Secondary school, Mugona Girls’ High School, Precious Blood Kagwe Girls’ School and Good Samaritan Secondary School

Over 200 films are set to be screened in the next three days – with the festival set to close on Saturday, July 2.