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How 2019 Kalasha Awards went down

By Hilary Kimuyu December 2nd, 2019 3 min read

George Mo (Lost in Time) and Sarah Hassan were voted the Best Lead Actor and Actress respectively at the 9th edition of the prestigious Kalasha Awards on Saturday night at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi.

Andrew Odera’s Lost In Time won the Best Feature, while The Whistle Blower was voted the Best Short Film.

Best lead Actress in a Film winner Sarah Hassan for the movie Plan B poses with her trophy during the 9th Kalasha Awards held at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on December 1, 2019. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU
Best lead Actress in a Film winner Sarah Hassan for the movie Plan B poses with her trophy during the 9th Kalasha Awards held at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on December 1, 2019. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU

Africa Uncensored’s My Cancer Story – Uncensored Mtaani won in the Best Documentary award.

The big winners in TV were Pascal Tokodi and Nyce Wanjeri who were voted the Best Lead Actor and Actress in a TV Drama respectively.

Our Perfect Wedding won the Best TV Reality award while Best TV Drama award went to Selina. Both shows air on Maisha Magic.

The event brought together government leaders, corporation officials, company executives, film and media players among many other dignitaries.

Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama winner Nyce Wanjeri for the kikuyu show Ithaga Riene (center with white dress) poses with her trophy and fellow cast and crew members during the 9th Kalasha Awards held at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on December 1, 2019. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU
Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama winner Nyce Wanjeri for the kikuyu show Ithaga Riene (center with white dress) poses with her trophy and fellow cast and crew members during the 9th Kalasha Awards held at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on December 1, 2019. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU

The 170 nominees from 32 categories were selected among 959 entries that were submitted for the nomination between 20th August and 20th October 2019.

The jury academy comprised of eight members with industry expertise necessary for quality selections.

Kalasha Awards 2019 was co-hosted by the Kenya Film Commission and the digital Television Company, StarTimes who forged partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding to support Kalasha.

The Commission identified StarTimes ON, an online mobile application as a strategic platform where the shortlisted films were uploaded for viewing and public voting from 30th October to 30th November.

Best Lead Actor in a TV Drama winner Paskal Tokodi for the show Selina poses with his trophy during the 9th Kalasha Awards held at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on December 1, 2019. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU
Best Lead Actor in a TV Drama winner Paskal Tokodi for the show Selina poses with his trophy during the 9th Kalasha Awards held at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on December 1, 2019. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU

The StarTimes app, being the only voting means for Kalasha raised public concerns with many arguing that their audiences did not have access to smartphones, internet or could not be wanting to install the voting application.

Fans had to download the StarTimes ON App to vote. This is after Kenya Film Commission signed a partnership with StarTimes Kenya.

Despite the rain and controversy, it was a night of glitz and glamour at the awards event with the who is who in the film industry, dignitaries and top government officials gracing the red-carpet event.

All the winners received Sh50,000 each among many other goodies from the event sponsors.

Here is Kalasha Awards 2019 Full List of Winners

Best Lead Actor: George Mo – Lost in Time

Best Lead Actress: Sarah Hassan

Best Supporting Actor: Ibrahim Muchemi

Best Supporting Actress: Neomi Ng’ang’a

Best Sound Designer: Karanja Kiarie

Best Original Score: Cathy Matete – What’s On Your Mind

Best Editor: John Onyamo & Kenji Gathecha – The Whistle Blower

Best Lighting Technician: Walter Odhiambo – Plan B

Best Special Effects: Willis Wanyiri – Kitambo

Best Original Screenplay: Edijoe Mwaniki – Lost In Time

Best Feature: Lost In Time – Andrew Odera

Best Director of Photography: Abdi Shuria – The Whistle Blower

Best Documentary: My Cancer Story – Uncensored Mtaani – Elijah Kanyi, Africa Uncensored

Best Short Film: The Whistle Blower

Best Local Language Film: Jonarobi

Best Production Designer: Ensulo

Best Director: Peter Kawa – Lost In Time

TV

Best Lead Actor in a TV Drama: Pascal Tokodi

Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama: Nyce Wanjeri

Best Performance in a TV Comedy: Kazungu Fahamu

Best Host in TV Show: Amina Abdi Rabar – The Turn Up

Best TV Documentary: Disappearing Spots

Best TV Reality: Our Perfect Wedding

Best TV Comedy: Nyanya Rukia – Maisha Magic

Best TV Drama: Selina – Maisha Magic

Best TV Advertisement: The Selfie- Acnes Creamy Wash

Best E-Sport: Africa E-Sports Championship – Kenya Nationals

SPECIAL AWARDS

Best Diaspora Production: Pardon, Excuse My Manners – Saitabao Kaiyare

Best Student Short Film: Unbalanced – USIU

Best Film Feature by a Student: Jiji – Kenyatta University

Best Documentary by a Student: This Is Us

Kituo Halisi: KU TV Kenya

Lifetime Achievement Award: Francis Ouma

Best Animation Production: XYZ Show

Gaming: Mzito – George Odongo