East African Standart

Film on Kenya shines at Oscars
By Kimani wa Wanjiru
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In spite of the ongoing Gulf War, the 75th Academy Awards went on and Kenya featured prominently and favourably.
Kenya's beautiful film locations were back again at the Oscar awards which are considered the most prestigious and glamorous event for film-makers.

Nirgendwo Afrika (Nowhere Africa), a film about the challenges faced by a German Jewish family who flee to Kenya after the Nazis take control of their homeland, was awarded the Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film at this year's event that has been overshadowed by the war in Iraq.

The award-winning film was competing against a host of other interesting films like El Crimen del Padre Amaro from Mexico, Hero from the People's Republic of China, The Man Without a Past from Finland and Zus & Zo from The Netherlands.

The German movie, directed by Caroline Link and filmed entirely in Kenya, was considered by many the front-runner to land the award. Link had been previously nominated in this same category for her 1996 movie Beyond Silence.

Nowhere in Africa, which has once again showcased Kenya's immense potential as a favourable award-winning films location, is based on an autobiographical novel by Stefanie Zweig. The film was a huge hit in Germany and won five Lolas- Germany's equivalent of Oscars - including Best Picture and Best Director.