Ugandan Filmmaker Jonathan Benaiah Wins Top Prize at Wildscreen Festival Kenya

Jonathan Benaiah, a Ugandan filmmaker focused on conservation, has clinched the top honor at WildPitch Kenya 2026, a prominent pitching competition for wildlife and natural history filmmakers. The event was held as part of the Wildscreen Festival Kenya in Nairobi.

Benaiah’s winning project, titled ‘Musambwa’, uses the lens of spirituality, conservation, and human experiences to tell stories connected to Musambwa Island, located in Lake Victoria.

The documentary project focuses on the lives of two Ugandan elders. One elder is a guardian of sacred cobras on Musambwa Island, revered by local communities as embodiments of ancestral spirits. The other elder carries the weight of trauma from surviving two severe snakebite incidents on the mainland.

‘Musambwa’ was selected from six finalist projects originating from across the African continent before being awarded the overall prize. This victory includes partial development funding, which will aid in the further research and production of the documentary.

This achievement highlights Benaiah among a growing number of African filmmakers who are increasingly gaining international recognition for their compelling stories that often weave together conservation themes with local cultures and indigenous knowledge systems.

The Wildscreen Festival Kenya, a two-day event, gathered filmmakers, conservationists, broadcasters, and industry leaders from Africa and beyond. The festival served as a platform for crucial discussions on emerging trends and opportunities within the natural history storytelling sector.

Discussions took place across panel sessions, networking opportunities were fostered, and notable film screenings were held. These included previews of upcoming productions like National Geographic’s ‘LION’ and ‘Cheetahs Up Close’, which has garnered significant attention recently.

Representatives from prominent international organizations, such as the BBC Natural History Unit and Wildstar Films, were among the key industry stakeholders present at the festival.

Source: Nile Post