Docubox - The East African Documentary Film Fund

Docubox - The East African Documentary Film Fund DOCUBOX is a Documentary Film Fund that supports intimate, character-driven storytelling

“A country without documentary is like a family without a photo album”
- Patricio Guzmán

We believe good documentaries are intimate observations of the world’s identities and people captured by talented, driven, creative filmmakers: films able to uncover new realities because they are authored by authentic local voic

es; films that offer viewers new perspectives of society. We are enabling filmmakers in East Africa to create authentic work that provides personalized glimpses into worlds, issues and lives that would ordinarily remain undocumented by giving grants of between $1500 and $20,000 per project. The $1,500 per project will support 12 trailers, from which 4 to 6 films will go on to be selected and granted amounts of upto $20,000 each to produce. In addition, guidance throughout the process of making the film will be given by internationally experienced and acclaimed documentary filmmakers, so selected projects will be suported not just financially but also with periodic advice. Making documentary films is a long and often lonely journey, and DOCUBOX aims to build a community of peers to share and grow with whilst hosting frequent workshops and screenings for our community. In addition to hosting screenings of both internationally celebrated documentary films and our own local documentary films, we will strive to create a safe environment where we can share our work and receive honest feedback that will make us all better filmmakers both at live forums and online through our website community pages. We have a modest library of great documentary films - - - but its growing and community members will soon be welcome to come watch films in-house at soon-to-be agreed times. We are also working on the best way to source and share online resources that any seriously committed East African documentary filmmaker will be able to access. We have financial support through till 2014, but time flies fast when you're making films, and so we will strive to grow this support so that we can keep going for at a few more years, thus growing a cohesive community of filmmakers. We aim to create a movement that will challenge ideas and assumptions about the world we live in. We believe that to change and inspire society, we need to support films that can spark off thought or debate, films that get talked about, films that contribute to the formation of a vibrant documentary film movement across East Africa. And we want to do this because we believe that true stories well told make the world a better place to live.

04/06/2026

Docubox Day at PWFF 2026 just happened and we’re still feeling it.

A full day dedicated to our films, our community, and the stories that drive us. Screenings. Conversations. Impact. All under one roof at the Pridelands Wildlife Film Festival.

A special shoutout to the incredible filmmakers who brought their craft, wisdom, and honesty to our masterclass sessions , , .m.njoroge , , and . You made the room come alive.

But the moment that stopped us in our tracks? Our founder,Judy Kibinge ,being honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award , with , our Screenings Manager, receiving it on her behalf. A recognition of years of relentless dedication to African documentary filmmaking and the next generation of storytellers.

We don’t take this lightly. This highlight is just a glimpse , the full impact of the day lives with everyone who was in that room. 🎥

From Kwale to Mombasa, Docubox spent three impactful days bringing communities together through film and conversation as...
31/05/2026

From Kwale to Mombasa, Docubox spent three impactful days bringing communities together through film and conversation as part of Follow The Leader, a civic education and civic engagement project.

In Kwale, we held screenings in Mvuakani and Kombani in collaboration with . Along the Coast, we screened in Mtopanga alongside , and in Changamwe and St. Charles Lwanga in partnership with .

Audiences engaged with four powerful films: Chess Not Checkers directed by Jennifer Gatero , Rocky’s Triumph directed by Elijah Kanyi , What Shall I Wear to My Funeral? directed by Robert Mutahi , and The Last Mango Tree directed by Joash Omondi . Through these stories, communities reflected on leadership, participation, accountability, and the role each of us plays in shaping society.

Across all screenings, we reached over 1,600 audience members from diverse backgrounds and demographics. More than just film screenings, these gatherings became spaces for meaningful dialogue, reflection, and community engagement around issues that matter.

At Docubox, we believe the power of documentary extends far beyond the screen. It lives in the conversations that follow, the perspectives that shift, and the connections that are built when communities come together to share stories and imagine new possibilities.

Thank you to our partners, facilitators, and every audience member who showed up, participated, and contributed to these important conversations. The journey continues.

25/05/2026

Some stories find you when you least expect them.
In 2002, a broken-down car in the small Ugandan town of Mbirizi led filmmaker Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine to a chance encounter that would consume the next 22 years of his life — a humble photo studio, and the extraordinary man behind it: Kibaate Aloysius Ssalongo, a rural photographer who had been quietly, faithfully documenting an entire community since the late 1950s.
Memories of Love Returned is the stunning result of that serendipitous meeting , a deeply personal documentary about memory, legacy, community, and the photographs that hold our humanity long after we are gone.

🗓️ Wednesday, 28th May 2025 | From 6pm
📍 Goethe-Institut Nairobi
As part of Kamera Kwanza, the ongoing film screening series brought to you by Goethe-Institut and Docubox.
Come witness a love letter to African photography, memory, and the power of being seen.


21/05/2026

Meet Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine as he shares an invitation to his film “Memories of Love” Returned ahead of this month’s Kamera Kwanza screening.

The award-winning documentary traces Ntare’s encounter with photographer Kibaate Aloysius Ssalongo after a roadside stop in Mbirizi, Uganda in the early 2000s. Over the years, Ssalongo built a remarkable archive documenting everyday life in the community through portraits photographed at weddings, in homes, and across ordinary moments of intimacy, love, and connection rarely afforded to African subjects in photography and film.

In the spirit of Kamera Kwanzaa’s ongoing commitment to creating space for African cinema, conversation, and exchange, audiences will also get the opportunity to continue the conversation with Ntare through a virtual Q&A following the screening.

Happening next Wednesday from 6PM at the Goethe-Institut Auditorium.

Hope to see you there🫵🏽💫

20/05/2026

Applying for a film grant can be intimidating. You might have a strong project, but still feel unsure about the process itself, what the readers are looking for, how applications are assessed, or whether you’re even approaching the application the right way.

In this episode, we break down the Docubox grant process more openly, demystifying some of the things filmmakers are often left guessing about when submitting their projects, while giving a clearer sense of what strengthens an application and how to approach the process with more confidence.

Catch the full episode on our YouTube Channel link in bio 🔗

Also, a reminder that applications for the Feature Fiction Films Creative Producers Lab are still open until 24 May 2026.

7 Kenyan producers will be selected for a 5-day in-person lab (13–18 July 2026), with mentorship from Story Consultants, Script Doctors & Creative Producers. 5 selected projects will also receive a USD 5,000 development grant.

🔗 Apply via: submissions.mydocubox.org

Last week, Docubox, in partnership with IRIS, had the privilege of training young mothers and embedded artists in the ar...
19/05/2026

Last week, Docubox, in partnership with IRIS, had the privilege of training young mothers and embedded artists in the art of storytelling. 🎥
Led by our very own , , and , the workshop took participants from the fundamentals of story development to hands-on camera work and editing.
It was powerful to witness young mothers and artists alike build not just technical skills, but also confidence, creativity, and voice.
At the Young Mothers Consortium workshop in Kibera, empowerment was on full display — a reminder that when people are given the tools to tell their own stories, they begin to shape their own narratives. 💪
Every story deserves to be told.

An opportunity for our community WildPitch applications are now open for Wildscreen Festival Kenya 2026.If you’re develo...
15/05/2026

An opportunity for our community

WildPitch applications are now open for Wildscreen Festival Kenya 2026.

If you’re developing a natural world story, this is your chance to pitch your project live to an international industry audience in Nairobi on 11 & 12 June.

Selected filmmakers will compete for a share of the $5,000 prize pool across three placements, with one finalist also receiving a mentorship opportunity with The Wilderness Project.

Open to emerging and established filmmakers born and living in Africa. Applicants must hold a live festival ticket to be eligible.

Wildscreen Festival Kenya returns to Nairobi after editions in Kenya, Tanzania, and Botswana, bringing together African filmmakers and global industry professionals for two days of screenings, conversations, networking, and industry exchange.

📍 Emara Ole-Sereni | 11–12 June 2026
**WildPitch deadline: Wednesday 20 May 2026, 12PM CAT**

Tickets are also available for the full festival experience. Apply and register via: wildscreen.org/wildscreen-festival-kenya

Docubox is heading to Cannes. ✨As part of the historic Women in Film Los Angeles (WIF LA) and Women in Film & TV Africa ...
12/05/2026

Docubox is heading to Cannes. ✨

As part of the historic Women in Film Los Angeles (WIF LA) and Women in Film & TV Africa (WIFT Africa)presence at the Marché du Film, our Executive Director Susan Mbogo will be taking over the WIF LA x WIFT Africa booth on May 13 (Tomorrow)

Stop by to learn more about Docubox and the work we continue to do in supporting independent African storytelling.

📍 WIF LA x WIFT Africa Booth
Palais -1 | Booth 18.06
Marché du Film, Cannes

🗓 May 13, 2026
⏰ 4PM–6PM CEST

To learn more about the WIF LA x WIFT Africa Cannes delegation, visit and to read the full Variety feature.

We’d love to connect if you’re at Cannes this year :)

🎬 Docubox Impact Screenings are coming to the Coast! 🌊This May 27–30, Docubox Impact Screenings roll into the Coast Regi...
11/05/2026

🎬 Docubox Impact Screenings are coming to the Coast! 🌊

This May 27–30, Docubox Impact Screenings roll into the Coast Region — and we're showing up in schools, youth spaces, polytechnics, and cultural hubs across Kwale and Mombasa.

We'll be screening films from Follow The Leader, exploring themes of civic engagement, youth empowerment, women in leadership, and the need for accountable governance.

📍 Here's the full lineup:

Wed 27 May
🕗 8:30–10:00am | Marianist Technical Institute
🕑 2:00–4:00pm | Ukunda Polytechnic

Thu 28 May
🕡 6:30–8:00pm | Dream Achievers Youth Organization (DAYO), Mtopanga

Fri 29 May
🕙 10:00am–12:00pm | Changamwe Resort Center
🕒 3:00–5:00pm | St Charles Lwanga High School

Sat 30 May
🕙 10:00am–10:00pm | Alliance Française Mombasa

Come for the films. Stay for the conversation. 🌊

We're grateful to our partners — Health and Planet Empowerment Network, DAYO, CareMind Community Network — for making this possible.

For the first time, Docubox is opening a call dedicated to feature fiction development 🎬As part of the Docubox Internati...
06/05/2026

For the first time, Docubox is opening a call dedicated to feature fiction development 🎬

As part of the Docubox International Partnership Summit 2026, the Docubox Creative Producers Lab will support 7 Kenyan producers developing feature-length fiction films through a 5-day in-person lab alongside an experienced creative producer, continued virtual support with story consultants and script doctors, and opportunities to connect with international partners, funders, and industry stakeholders attending the summit.

At the end of the lab, 5 projects will receive a USD 5,000 development grant towards script development, production bibles, fundraising materials, and other tools needed to move the projects closer to production.

Eligibility:
• Fiction films only
• 60–120 min runtime
• All genres accepted
• Kenya-set stories
• At least 2 successful short films OR 1 produced feature film

Deadline: 24 May 2026
Apply via: submissions.mydocubox.org (Link in bio 🔗)
For Inquiries, Email us at: [email protected]

Address

SHALOM HOUSE ST. DANIEL COMBONI Road
Nairobi
POBOX14808,00800

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 10:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 10:00 - 17:00
Thursday 10:00 - 17:00
Friday 10:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+254724383000

Website

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