WANURI KAHIU - BIOGRAPHY

" My primary objective is to support Kenya's unique artistic voice and create a sustained family of artists who motivate and inspire each other in a borderless world."

EDUCATION:

Wanuri Kahiu was born in Nairobi, Kenya and attended the University of Warwick, UK where she earned a BSc degree in Management Science in 2001. She enrolled in the Masters of Fine Arts programme in Directing in the School of Film and Television at the University of California, Los Angeles where she received the Motion Pictures of America Associates Award and the Hollywood Foreign Press Award for distinguished director.

EXPERIENCE:

In 1996 Wanuri Kahiu worked as an intern for Ace Communications that was run by Hon. Raphael Tuju. Under his wing she learned the benefits and essentials of educational story telling while working on a documentary on female circumcision.

Soon after, Wanuri had the opportunity to work as a Production intern in Pinewood Studios, London and later as a Producer's assistant in Alexandria Productions, Virginia. Her experience in the Motion Picture Industry was gained while working as a Director's Intern in Paramount Studios during the "Italian Job". Through this, Wanuri gained the experience of work-study training through a variety of people in the different tiers of the Entertainment Industry.

After completion of her Masters, Wanuri directed a behind-the-scenes documentary "The Spark that Unites" for the film "Catch-A-Fire" directed by Phillip Noyce, starring Derek Luke and Tim Robbins. Soon after she directed a short film "Ras Star" for M-Net an African Cable Channel that was released in June 2007. Wanuri is currently in pre-production for "My Sister, My Hero" a feature length road trip documentary and also researching a narrative film about the Kenya land Freedom Army ("Mau Mau").

"My first concern is making films for and about Africans; films that are a celebration of people, traditions and the land that are the life-source of art and culture."