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Daudi Anguka, Whose ‘Mvera’ Was Kenya’s Oscar Entry, on Why African Filmmakers Should Stop Imitating Hollywood (EXCLUSIVE)


The debut film by the 29-year-old Mombasa director was selected as Kenya's submission in the international feature category of the Oscars.

The southeast Kenyan region where he grew up is similarly overlooked by the country’s growing film biz, but Anguka not only produced his directorial feature debut, “Mvera,” there — he also did what he did in high school: He opened the door for others. I changed the story to modern-day exploitation in Kenyan society and how people look abroad and are lured there under false pretences — conned by the idea that what is overseas must be better.” He says: “As a Kenyan coastal independent filmmaker, the way we’ve been working hard, looking for finance to produce content from here, like ‘Mvera’ — it’s about trying to get recognition that we’re here; for people to understand that we’re moving in the right direction.”

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