Kilifi town will enjoy a week-long of film bonanza in the inaugural Kilifi Creek Festival, during which artists will showcase their creativity.
The fete will bring together established filmmakers, artists, and local communities for a seven-day journey of film screenings, art exhibitions, fashion showcases, masterclasses, and public conversations.
The events will take place in curated venues along the scenic Kilifi Creek, ranging from intimate waterfront settings to vibrant public spaces.
The festival will take place from October 11 to 18, 2025.
The organisers say it is the result of a collaboration between Kilifi-based The Terrace Consortium and the innovation initiative Yora – Year of Return Africa.
The festival’s theme is: Water is Memory, Movement and Magic.
The theme acknowledges the significance of the creek—characterised by gleaming waters, ancient mangroves, and the communities whose lives revolve around one of Kilifi County’s most scenic landmarks.
A total of 47 screenings have been scheduled, including 33 films from 15 African countries, to be shown at various venues along the creek throughout the week.
"The inclusion of Kilifi-based businesses and local communities is another milestone of the new festival,” the statement by organisers says.
The festival will showcase Kenyan filmmaking talent, including Mombasa-based director Omar Hamza’s film Sukari, Float by Lydia Matata, Mawimbi by Mark Wambui, and the Disney award-winning animation Enkai by Ng’endo Mukii.
The Kilifi Creek Festival will also feature American-Ugandan creative Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine.
His latest film, 'Memories of Love Returned', which received the Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary at the 2024 Pan African Film Festival, will also be screened.
“I’m proud and honoured to be the co-founder of the festival in my adopted hometown. It is the culmination of the hard work by the other co-founders, namely Mumo Liku and Saitabao Kaiyare, our talented Kilifi-based artists and the YORA Awards," said festival co-founder and filmmaker Zippy Kimundu.
I’m deeply honoured and humbled to be part of this powerful step in putting Kilifi on the map as Kenya’s next vibrant hub for film, art and storytelling,” she added.
The eco-conscious festival is committed to sustainability and remains deeply engaged with the local culture.
Organisers have scheduled Q&A sessions with filmmakers, allowing audiences to interact with invited directors and producers.
Workshops, community screenings, and artist residencies have also been planned to give the festival longevity and strengthen its connection to the Kilifi community and surrounding areas.
The annual festival is a partnership between Kilifi-based The Terrace Consortium and the YORA Annual Awards.
The Terrace Consortium was founded by filmmakers Zippy Kimundu of Afrofilms International, and Baruu Collective’s Saitabao Kaiyare and Mumo Liku.
