Kenya’s controversial lesbian themed movie “Rafiki”is set to play todayin New Zealand Parliament .
The movie was initially banned in Kenya by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) for promoting lesbianism before the court overturned the directive.
Rafiki Director Wanuri Kahiu took to social media announced that she would hold discussions with the lawmakers after the play.
Today @rafikimovie plays in Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand and I get to discuss it with members of parliament!
— Wanuri (@wanuri) October 28, 2018
Rafiki movie won an award six days ago during the 23rd annual Twist; Seattle Queer Film Festival.
According to Executive director of Three Dollar Bill Cinema Ben McCarthy, the two awards were the first honours the movie had received since it premiered in Kenya on September 23.
“We are thrilled that Rafiki won both the audience and jury awards for narrative feature and that we can bring further attention to this important, beautiful film from a country whose LGBTQ community faces rampant discrimination and fear of imprisonment,” remarked McCarthy.
Wanuri’s film, however,failed to make for the Oscar nomination after losing out to another Kenyan movie SupaModo .
The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) banned the film because of “it’s homosexual theme and clear intent to promote lesbianism in Kenya is contrary to the law.”
The ban came just days after KFCB CEO Ezekiel Mutua had applauded the movie director Wanuri Kahiu during an interview on Hot96 with Jeff Koinange saying, “I had a great meeting with Wanuri Kahiu, one of the greatest Kenyans that we have in the film industry and her movie has been nominated. Cannes is big, other than the Oscars, Cannes is the best.”
Mutua has since, in an unprecedented turn of events, become one of the greatest critics of the movie. Responding to allegations of hypocrisy on his part.
For Rafiki to be eligible for best foreign-language film Oscar consideration, it must be screened in Kenya before September 30.
Apart from New Zealand,Rafiki movie will also play in Brazil, India and USA
Here's where you can see #RafikiMovie this week (6 cities):
29 Oct – @MOSTRASP (Brazil)
30 Oct – @mkefilm (USA)
30, 31 Oct – @MumbaiFilmFest (India)
3 Nov – @citizenjanefilm (USA)
3 Nov – @ScottsdaleIFF (USA)
4 Nov – @Filmtage (Germany)PLUS Cinemas in CH, FR & BE 📽️
— Rafiki Movie (@rafikimovie) October 29, 2018