Searching for Amani

His father's job was to protect the animals. Whose job was it to protect him?

Thirteen-year-old Simon Ali is an aspiring investigative journalist living in Laikipia, Kenya, a lush area where elephants roam, and part of the savannah still thrives. It’s also one of the most unstable regions, making headlines for its violent clashes and record-breaking droughts.
In 2019, armed pastoralists killed his father while he worked as a tour guide. For over a year, Simon waited for the investigators to come and do their job, but they never came.
Taking up the mantle of the investigation himself, Simon begins to search for the answers his family seeks. Shot over three years, exploring the life and death of Simon’s father catalyzes a conversation about the changing environment, conservation, and community equity in a time of crisis.

A short film will be screened before the feature film

Then Comes the Body

Jacob Krupnick | 2023 | 14 min | Nigeria
New Zealand Premiere

When a video of kids dancing in the rain goes viral, it brings global attention to an unlikely ballet school outside Lagos, Nigeria. Now, Daniel Ajala -- who learned ballet over YouTube -- is training students to perform on the world stage.