Watu Wote

Watu Wote: All of Us, or simply Watu Wote is a 2017 Kenyan-German, live-action short film directed by Katja Benrath, as her graduation project at Hamburg Media School. The film is based on a December 2015 bus attack by Al-Shabaab in Mandera, Kenya.^[1] The film received critical acclaim, winning a Student Academy Award for Narrative,^[2][3] and received an Academy Award nomination for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards.^[4] Production faced difficulties when the crew's camera was stolen before filming had begun.^[5]

Watu Wote
Directed by	Katja Benrath
Written by	Julia Drache
Produced by	Tobias Rosen
Cinematography	Felix Striegel
Edited by	Julia Drache
Music by	Florian Hirschmann Elisabeth Kaplan
Production company	Hamburg Media School
Running time	22 minutes
Countries	Germany Kenya
Languages	Swahili Somali

Plot

Jua, a Christian living in Kenya, boards a chartered bus to visit a relative and is uncomfortable being surrounded by Muslim passengers. The bus is stopped by the violent terrorist group Al-Shabaab, whose members demand that the Muslims identify the Christian passengers.^[6][7]

Cast

• Barkhad Abdirahman as Abdirashid Adan
• Faysal Ahmed as Hassan Yaqub Ali (Al-Shabaab Leader)
• Mahad Ahmed as Passenger
• Abdiwali Farrah as Salah Farah
• Charles Karumi as Issa Osman
• Alex Khayo as GSU officer
• Gerald Langiri as GSU officer
• Justin Mirichii as James Ouma
• Saada Mohammed as Astuhr
• Douglas Muigai as GSU officer
• Adelyne Wairimu as Jua

Reception

Critical reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on 9 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10.^[8]

Awards and nominations

• Winner: (Gold Plaque) Student Academy Award for Best International Film School - Narrative
• Nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards.^[9]