A second StoryBoard Collective/Sunshine Cinema grant of 5,000 CHF was handed out March 12 at FIFDH to support future community screenings of the Kenyan doc The Battle for Laikipia, directed by Daphne Matziaraki and Peter Murimi. During the Geneva festival and market, producer Toni Kamau and Impact producer Elsie Ann Wambui Kariuki outlined their impact strategy for the film, which world-premiered at Sundance 2024.
The Battle for Laikipia concerns the complicated legacy of British colonialism, which pits white ranchers and conservationists against the indigenous nomadic communities, all set against a backdrop of worsening climate change. The film is handled internationally by MetFilm Sales.
At FIFDH, Impact producer Elsie Ann Wambui Kariuki articulated her goals for the film. “The film sheds light on the urgent need for mediated dialogue and inclusive policies that promote lasting peace,” she said. “Our primary goal is to promote empathy among key stakeholders through targeted screenings and restorative workshops. These workshops aim to create safe spaces for indigenous pastoralists, landowners, policy makers and security forces to voice their grievances and articulate their needs, ultimately fostering peace. Our secondary goal is to use a multi-sectoral approach to propose lasting solutions for Laikipia…With key stakeholders we aim to develop a solutions policy report outlining actionable steps that partners can take to address the conflict.”
Producer Toni Kamau further stressed how the film will be released theatrically in Kenya and in the UK (details TBA) and will be “repurposed” as a New York Times Op Doc to reach “one million viewers worldwide.”
“Additionally, we’ll create a one-hour TV cutdown to reach 500,000 Kenyan viewers. And also we will use this cutdown for our community screenings,” she commented.
Co-director Daphne Matziaraki joined the pitch remotely to explain her involvement with Kenya and the grave issues that her film addresses.
“I first visited Laikipia 20 years ago when I moved to Kenya to work for the United Nations Environment Program on climate change mitigations, and I grew to understand the complexities around conservation and indigenous land rights as well as climate change in this area,” she said. “While viewers might initially think that the problems of this Kenyan landscape are far from their daily realities, our story is a microcosm of universal, of taboo issues that we all face; identity and equality, the legacy of colonialism and the climate crisis.
“The Battle for Laikipia reflects the global battle for the future of the Earth. We need your support to carry out impact, and create models of peace reconciliation in similar places across the world that are facing resource conflict due to the effect of climate change and unresolved history,” Matziaraki ended.
