Supa Modo

Supa Modo
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 (Berlin);
Running time	74 minutes
Countries	Kenya; Germany
Languages	Swahili; Kikuyu; English
Budget	€250,000

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

Plot

Jo is a young girl living in a small village in Kenya. It is her dream to become a super-hero, but unfortunately these ambitions are hindered by her impending terminal illness. 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. The project was founded by Tom Tykwer and Marie Steinmann. Other movies resulting from this workshop include Kati Kati, Nairobi Half Life, Something Necessary and Soul Boy.

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 Kahuha 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 fighter
Biqun Su as Kung fu fighter
Likarion Wainaina as Thief in a motorcycle

Release

The movie had its world premiere at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival in the category "Generations".

Awards and nominations


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

References

↑ Vourlias, Christopher (26 October 2017). "Discop Africa: Rushlake Media Acquires 'Supa Modo' From Tom Tykwer's One Fine Day Films". Variety. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
↑ "| Berlinale | Press | Press Releases | All Press Releases - Generation 2018: On true fairy tales and magical realities". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
↑ Musyoka, Michael (28 September 2018). "Supa Modo is Kenya's Submission to Oscars, Rafiki Loses Out". Kenyans.co.ke. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
↑ Vourlias, Christopher (28 September 2018). "Kenya Picks Berlinale Crowd-Pleaser 'Supa Modo' as Its Oscar Hopeful". Variety. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
↑ "First-time producers on set to shoot 'Super Modo' film". Daily Nation. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
↑ "onefinedayfilms". onefinedayfilms (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
↑ "Tom Tykwer presents superhero film from Kenya "Supa Modo"". Deutsche Welle. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2026.

Miami, Silas (10 June 2020). "#KEDeserveBetter". Twitter. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
Media, The Standard. "Inside murky waters of the Kenyan Film Industry". The Standard Entertainment. Retrieved 19 July 2020.

External links

Supa Modo at IMDb

This article related to a Kenyan film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

[1] Vourlias, Christopher (26 October 2017). "Discop Africa: Rushlake Media Acquires 'Supa Modo' From Tom Tykwer's One Fine Day Films". Variety. Retrieved 30 January 2018.

[2] "| Berlinale | Press | Press Releases | All Press Releases - Generation 2018: On true fairy tales and magical realities". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 30 January 2018.

[Kenya-3] Musyoka, Michael (28 September 2018). "Supa Modo is Kenya's Submission to Oscars, Rafiki Loses Out". Kenyans.co.ke. Retrieved 28 September 2018.

[4] Vourlias, Christopher (28 September 2018). "Kenya Picks Berlinale Crowd-Pleaser 'Supa Modo' as Its Oscar Hopeful". Variety. Retrieved 28 September 2018.

[5] "First-time producers on set to shoot 'Super Modo' film". Daily Nation. Retrieved 30 January 2018.

[6] "onefinedayfilms". onefinedayfilms (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2018.

[7] "Tom Tykwer presents superhero film from Kenya "Supa Modo"". Deutsche Welle. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2026.