The Space Maasai wins big as Tanzanian films shine in South Africa
What you need to know:
- The film pays tribute to young African boys and girls, inspiring them to pursue their passions and believe in their potential.
Dar es Salaam. The Tanzanian feature film "The Space Maasai," directed by Priscilla Marealle and produced by Wilson Nkya, was among the big winners as Tanzanian films scooped major awards in South Africa.
"The Space Maasai" received the DFM Talent Durban Award, which provides the film's creators the opportunity to pitch their project to principal funders, broadcasters, and streamers worldwide at the 2025 DFM pitch and finance forum.
Selected from 29 films by participants from various African countries, including Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, Benin, Namibia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Tunisia, and Senegal, "The Space Maasai" is currently in development. The film pays tribute to young African boys and girls, inspiring them to pursue their passions and believe in their potential.
"The Space Maasai" wasn't the only Tanzanian film to shine at the event for some of Africa's best creatives. Other Tanzanian winners included:
"Children of Honey," a project by Jigar Ganatra, won the CANAL+ Development Grant and the IDA Supported Artist Award.
"The Legend of Hyena Man," a project produced by Mathew Valerian and directed by Joshua Faber, won The Hidden Hand Studios Award.
"Kelele," a documentary project by Frank Papushka, earned an opportunity to be pitched at the 2024 Durban FilmMart Talent.
Sharing more about the film's plot, Priscilla says that "The Space Maasai" is a beacon of hope and empowerment for all dreamers. "It follows a young Maasai boy's journey as he dreams of becoming an astronaut," she shares.
Priscilla and Wilson officially started working on the film after Priscilla received a development grant from DW Akademie in 2022. "With DW's support, we were able to shoot a proof of concept (trailer) in early 2023 with incredible Tanzanian filmmakers," she explains.
This proof of concept will be used to pitch and attract funders. To date, Wilson and Priscilla have participated in labs, festivals, and markets, exploring opportunities to develop "The Space Maasai" project. In 2022, Wilson was part of the Great Lakes Creative Producer Lab in Nairobi, Kenya, where he pitched "The Space Maasai," and in 2023, Priscilla attended the Yennenga Academy at FESPACO 2023, where she participated in workshops.
Recently, Priscilla was part of the 2024 Durban FilmMart Talents, where she received training and mentorship on developing "The Space Maasai" to the point of winning an award on the final night of Durban FilmMart 2024.
"This is a significant step for the Tanzanian film industry, encouraging other filmmakers to explore opportunities like film festivals, markets, labs, and residencies," Priscilla says, adding, "it raises awareness of Tanzania in the film world, promoting it as a potential film destination and encouraging co-productions. We believe this is one step ahead for the growth and promotion of the Tanzanian film industry."
The Durban FilmMart Institute facilitates local and international trade and investment in African film content.
