Supa Modo

Supa Modo is a 2018 internationally co-produced drama film directed by Likarion Wainaina.^[1] It first premiered at 68th Berlin International Film Festival.^[2] It was selected as the Kenyan entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.^[3][4]

Supa Modo
Film poster
Directed by	Likarion Wainaina
Written by	Silas Miami Mugambi Nthiga Wanjeri Gakuru Kamau Wa Ndung'u Likarion Wainaina
Story by	Likarion Wainaina
Produced by	Sarika Hemi Lakhani Marie Steinmann-Tykwer Tom Tykwer Ginger Wilson Guy Wilson
Starring	Stycie Waweru Maryanne Nungo Nyawara Ndambia
Cinematography	Enos Olik Volker Tittel
Edited by	Christian Krämer Charity Kuria
Music by	Sean Peevers
Production companies	Festival Agency Neaniko Plano Rushlake Media
Distributed by	Juno Films rigon-film Sächsischer Kinder- und Jugendfilmdienst Stowarzyszenie Nowe Horyzonty Neaniko Plano The Criterion Channel El Sur Films Filmcentrum Distribution
Release date	February 2018 (2018-02) (Berlin)
Running time	74 minutes
Countries	Kenya Germany
Languages	Swahili Kikuyu English
Budget	€250,000

Plot

Jo is a young girl living in a small village in Kenya. It's her dream to become a super-hero, but unfortunately these ambitions are hindered by her impending terminal illness. As an attempt to make her desires possible the whole village is plotting a genius plan with the goal to make her wish come true.

Background

Supa Modo was produced as part of the One Fine Day Films workshop-project, which gives African filmmakers the opportunity to learn from mentors and create their stories for an international audience.^[5] The project was founded by Tom Tykwer and Marie Steinmann. Other movies resulting from said workshops include Kati Kati, Nairobi Half Life, Something Necessary and Soul Boy.^[6]

Festivals

The movie had its world premiere at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival in the category "Generations".^{[citation needed]}

Cast

Stycie Waweru	as	Jo
Akinyi Marianne	as	Kathryn
Nyawara Ndambia	as	Mwix
Johnson Gitau Chege	as	Mike
Humphrey Maina	as	Pato
Joseph Omari	as	Chairman
Rita Njenga	as	Nyanya
Dinah Githinji	as	Anne
Nellex Nderitu	as	Titus
Edna Daisy Nguka	as	Josephine
Peris Wambui	as	Caro
Mercy Kariuki	as	Soni
Cindy Kahura	as	Halima
Nick Mwathi	as	Villager 1
Muriithi Mwangi	as	Villager 2
Martin Nyakabete	as	Villager 3
Joseph Wairimu	as	Rico
Isaya Evans	as	Hospital Orderly
Manuel Sierbert	as	Doctor
Michael Bahati	as	Njuguna
Meshack Omondi	as	Brayo
Elsie Wairimy	as	Charlo
John Gathinya	as	Ozil
Francis Githinji	as	Toni
Jubilant Elijah	as	Kush
Euphine Akoth Odhiambo	as	Football Player
Mary Njeri Mwangi	as	Football Player
Benedict Musau	as	Football Player
Yu Long Hu	as	Kung Fu Figter
Biqun Su	as	Kung Fu Figter
Likarion Wainaina	as	Motorcycle Mounted Thief

Awards

Awarding Organisation	Category	Year	Nominee	Result
Berlin International Film Festival	Generation Kplus - Best Film	2018	Supa Modo	Nominated
Berlin International Film Festival	Generation Kplus - Best Feature Film	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Edinburgh International Film Festival	Best International Feature Film	2018	Supa Modo	Nominated
Edinburgh International Film Festival	Best International Feature Film - Special Mention	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Carrousel International du Film	Best Feature	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Emden International Film Festival	Best Film - SCORE Bernhard Wicki Award	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Emden International Film Festival	AOK Film Award	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Hamburg Film Festival	Micheal Award	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Molodist Kyiv International Film Festival	Teen Screen Competition - Special Jury Diploma	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Molodist Kyiv International Film Festival	Teen Screen Competition - Scythian Deer	2018	Supa Modo	Nominated
Palm Springs International Film Festival	Best Foreign Language Film	2019	Supa Modo	Nominated
Portland International Film Festival	Best of Films for Families	2019	Supa Modo	Won
Seattle International Film Festival	New Directors Competition	2018	Likarion Wainaina	Nominated
Seattle International Film Festival	Best Film - Golden Space Needle Award	2018	Supa Modo	Nominated
Seattle International Film Festival	Best Film - Films4Families Youth Jury Award	2018	Supa Modo	Nominated
Zlín International Film Festival for Children and Youth	Best feature Film for Children	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Zlín International Film Festival for Children and Youth	Ecumenical Jury Award	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Cinekid	Youth Jury Award	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Ale Kino! - International Young Audience Film Festival	Young People's Jury Award	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Ale Kino! - International Young Audience Film Festival	Arthouse Cinemas Network Award	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Zanzibar International Film Festival	Best Feature Film	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Zanzibar International Film Festival	Best Film from East Africa	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Carthage Film Festival	Narrative Feature Film	2018	Supa Modo	Nominated
Carthage Film Festival	Best Screenplay	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Kristiansand International Children's Film Festival	EFCA Award	2018	Likarion Wainaina	Won
Durban International Film Festival	Artistic Bravery Prize	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Durban International Film Festival	Best Film - International Competition	2018	Supa Modo	Nominated
Minneapolis St. Paul international Film Festival	Youth Jury Award	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Black Film Festival Montreal	Best Narrative Feature	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Minsk International Film Festival “Listapad”	Best Film	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Minsk International Film Festival “Listapad”	Best Film for Children and Youth	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards	Best indigenous language Movie/Tv series in Swahili	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People	Best Feature Film	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People	Best Feature Film Screenplay	2018	Mugambi Nthiga	Won
Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People	Hellenic Parliament Award	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People	ECFA Award	2019	Supa Modo	Won
Cinema Public Festival Cine Junior	Young Jury's Prize	2019	Supa Modo	Won
Cinema Public Festival Cine Junior	Grain à Démoudre Award	2019	Supa Modo	Won
Cinema Public Festival Cine Junior	CICAE Award	2019	Supa Modo	Won
Jozi Film Festival	Audience Choice Award	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Cinetopia Film Festival	Foreign Narrative - Audience Award	2018	Supa Modo	Won
International Film Festival for Children and Young Audience SCHLiNGEL	Best National Feature Film - DEFA Foundation Award	2018	Supa Modo	Won
International Film Festival for Children and Young Audience SCHLiNGEL	Best national feature Film - Children's and Youth Film Award of the Goethe-Instut	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Dytiatko International Children TV Festival	Best Director	2018	Likarion Wainaina	Won
Cape Town International Film Market and Festival	Best New Director	2018	Likarion Wainaina	Won
Kalasha International Film and TV Awards	Best Production Designer	2018	Neha Manoj Shah	Won
Kalasha International Film and TV Awards	Best Lead Actor Film	2018	Johnson Gitau Chege	Won
Kalasha International Film and TV Awards	Best Supporting Actress Film	2018	Marrianne Nungo	Won
Kalasha International Film and TV Awards	Best Screenplay	2018	Mugambi Nthiga	Won
Kalasha International Film and TV Awards	Best Picture	2018	Ginger Wilson	Nominated
Kalasha International Film and TV Awards	Best Director	2018	Likarion Wainaina	Nominated
Kalasha International Film and TV Awards	Best Lead Actress Film	2018	Stycie Waweru	Nominated
Kalasha International Film and TV Awards	Best Cinematography	2018	Enos Olik	Nominated
Kalasha International Film and TV Awards	Best Local Language Film	2018	Ginger Wilson	Nominated
Kino W Trampkach (Cinema in Sneakers Film Festival for Children and Youth)	Best Children's Film - Special Mention Jury	2018	Supa Modo	Won
Children's Film Festival Seattle	Audience Award	2019	Supa Modo	Won
Children's Film Festival Seattle	Fantastic Foxes Jury Prize	2019	Supa Modo	Won
Children's Film Festival Seattle	Iron Giants Jury Prize	2019	Supa Modo	Won

See also

• List of Afrofuturist films
• List of submissions to the 91st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
• List of Kenyan submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film