Meet the 2026 Competition Juries

Three juries. Three distinct forms. One shared commitment to recognising ambitious African cinema.

The 2026 Juries

This year, NBO Film Festival introduces three juried competitions across Fiction Feature, Documentary Feature and Short Film Fiction. The juries bring together filmmakers, performers, producers and cultural workers whose practices reflect the breadth of contemporary African cinema.

“African cinema must live with African audiences—not only travel outward.”

Competition Selection: Fiction Feature Films

Fiction Feature Jury

Judy Kibinge — Jury Chair

Dru Mungai

Brenda Wairimu

Mugambi Nthiga

Angela Wamai

Five voices considering the craft, ambition and emotional force of this year’s feature competition.

Competition Selection: Documentary Films

Documentary Feature Jury

Sam Soko — Jury Chair

Philippa Ndisi-Herrmann

Hawa Essuman

Ibrahim “Snoopy” Ahmad

The jury awards the inaugural Nick Wambugu Prize for Documentary.

Short Film Fiction Jury

Lydia Matata — Jury Chair

Joash Omondi

Julianna Kabua

Brian Munene

Four practitioners recognising precision, invention and the possibilities of short-form storytelling.

Competition Selection · 15–25 October 2026

Fiction Feature Films: Cotton Queen, Lady, One Woman, One Bra, Laundry, Ben’Imana

Documentary Films: The Woman Who Poked the Leopard, My Father and Qaddafi, Kikuyu Land, Notes From the Underground, Crocodile

Short Films: The Big Sad Nairobi, Goat, Souls of Fouta, God Sleeps On Sundays, The Break-in

In memory

The Nick Wambugu Prize for Documentary

Awarded to the best documentary feature in competition and named in memory of Kenyan documentary filmmaker Nick Wambugu. The prize honours work that looks closely at public life, collective memory and the people shaping our societies.

Jury rosters

Fiction Feature Jury

Documentary Feature Jury

Short Film Fiction Jury

The Nick Wambugu Prize for Documentary