Self-determination and education are key themes of Nawi: Dear Future Me – both on screen and behind the scenes.
The Kenyan-German coming-of-age drama was Kenya’s entry for the best international feature film race at the 2025 Oscars. And at the recent Beijing International Film Festival, the jury, led by Chinese director and actor Jiang Wen, created a special jury honor to shine a spotlight on it.
Its ingredients of success include two German filmmaker brothers interested in social issues, two new Kenyan female directors, and a young Kenyan writer who shared her idea in a national writing contest.
Plus, the young Michelle Lemuya Ikeny plays the titular character in a star-making performance, adding to the potent mix.
The movie about the harmful tradition of child marriage will appeal to anyone looking for a human-touch narrative of empowerment and a social impact message.
Nawi, 13, the best student in her region, sees her aspirations of attending high school shattered when her father plans to marry her off to a stranger to ensure the family gets a substantial amount of livestock: “60 sheep, eight camels, and 100 goats,” as the viewer hears repeatedly. Nawi makes a big decision and goes on an epic journey.
Before the end credits, the filmmakers highlight that more than 640 million girls and women alive today were married as children.
‘Nawi’ behind-the-scenes
Courtesy of Kevin and Toby Schmutzler
“We are still two white men telling a story about a black girl,” Kevin explains why the collaborative approach of the four directors, and the rest of the team was so important. The result is a “mix of the Western gaze and perspective and the African perspective.”
The movie may be set in the remote Turkana region of Kenya, but his brother Toby highlights: “This is a universal film because this is a worldwide issue. And film is a universal language.”
With “Unsold Gem,” THR puts the spotlight on the best films from the festival circuit that have yet to land a U.S. distribution deal.
Nawi: Dear Future Me
Directed by: Toby and Kevin Schmutzler, Apuu Mourine, Vallentine Chelluget
Sales: Atlas International Film