Who we are
Kenyan stories, built to travel.
Slate Safi is an independent film production company in Nairobi. We develop, produce and deliver feature work with majority-Kenyan crews and international finance — films that hold up in a Nairobi cinema and in a festival theatre in London, Toronto or Austin.
Our story
Slate Safi started in 2019 as three people, one camera package and a stubborn belief: that the reason Kenyan features rarely travelled was not talent, it was infrastructure — financing, delivery standards and credits that international partners recognise.
We built the company backwards from that problem. Every production runs to international delivery spec. Every department carries a trainee who leaves with a named credit. Every film is budgeted assuming a festival run and a foreign sale, not hoping for one.
Boda Love, our 2024 debut, screened in Durban, Nairobi and London. Kibera Hustle, in post-production now, is our most ambitious production to date.
Mission
Make the films East Africa is already good enough to make — and get them seen everywhere.
- 94
- Crew on our last production
- 86%
- Kenyan hires
- 5
- Markets we distribute into
- 11
- Trainees credited to date
Cast & crew leadership
The people behind the slate
Wanjiru Mbatia
Founder & Director
Directed Boda Love and Kibera Hustle. Berlinale Talents alumna, formerly a documentary editor across East Africa.
Samuel Ochieng
Producer & Managing Partner
Twelve years producing scripted and branded work in Nairobi. Leads co-production and distribution relationships.
Lena Kariuki
Director of Photography
Shoots both features. Known for available-light Nairobi night work and anamorphic street coverage.
Priya Shah
Executive Producer, International
Based between London and Toronto. Handles financing, sales agents and festival strategy outside Africa.
Reach
Five markets, one production base
Kenya
Production base, Nairobi. Full in-house crew and equipment relationships.
Wider Africa
Festival and broadcast partners across East and Southern Africa.
United Kingdom
London EP desk, post facility partnership and sales representation.
Canada
Toronto co-production and diaspora distribution partners.
United States
US festival strategy and streaming acquisition conversations.
Selections & awards
- Official SelectionDurban International Film Festival2024
- Audience AwardNairobi Film Festival2024
- Official SelectionBFI London Film Festival2024
- Best East African Feature — NomineeToronto Black Film Festival2025
- Spotlight SelectionSXSW Global2025
Press
“A love story with an engine in it — Slate Safi shoot Nairobi with the confidence of a studio three times their size.”
“One of the most assured East African debuts in years.”
“Kenyan cinema's most exportable new voice.”