40 Sticks

{{short description|2020 Kenyan thriller film}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}

{{Infobox film

| name = 40 Sticks

| director = Victor Gatonye

| writer = Frank Maina, Voline Ogutu

| producer = Lucas Bikedo, Cutha Gathere, Sarah Hassan, Fakii Liwali, Betty Mutua

| starring = Shiviske Shivisi, Robert Agengo, Mwaura Bilal, Cajetan Boy, Andreo Kamau, Arabron Nyyeneque, Ywaya Xavier

| studio = Sense Play

| released = {{Film date|2020|11|20|df=y}}

| runtime = 92 minutes

| country = Kenya

| language = Swahili

}}

40 Sticks is a 2020 Kenyan thriller film produced by SensePLAY, a Kenyan audio-visual production house, an arm of Password Ventures Ltd.{{Cite web |title=KENYA FILM COMMISSION (KFC) HOSTS THE PREMIERE OF “40 STICKS” FEATURE FILM AHEAD OF ITS NETFLIX RELEASE – Kenya Film Commission |url=https://kenyafilmcommission.go.ke/news/kenya-film-commission-kfc-hosts-the-premiere-of-40-sticks-feature-film-ahead-of-its-netflix-release/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=kenyafilmcommission.go.ke}} It premiered on Netflix on November 20, 2020,{{Cite web|title=KENYAN FILM 40 STICKS SET TO PREMIERE ON NETFLIX – Buzz Central|url=https://buzzcentral.co.ke/2020/11/kenyan-film-40-sticks-set-to-premiere-on-netflix/|access-date=2020-11-05|language=en-GB}} showing in Africa, US, UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. 40 Sticks is the fourth Kenyan film to premiere on Netflix in 2020, after Poacher, Sincerely Daisy and Disconnect.{{Cite web|title=Kenyan thriller film, 40 Sticks, set for Netflix debut|url=https://citizentv.co.ke/lifestyle/kenyan-thriller-film-40-sticks-set-for-netflix-debut-350132/|access-date=2020-11-05|website=Citizentv.co.ke|language=en-US}} The story was created by Frank G. Maina, and written together with Voline Ogutu, and directed by Victor Gatonye.

40 Sticks was executive produced by Anthony Macharia, Lucas Bikedo, Betty M. Mutua and Fakii Liwali.

Plot

40 Sticks revolves around the story of a group of death row prisoners trapped in a prison bus that crashes, and their struggle to survive. Their misery is worsened by wild animals in the forest and a mysterious killer that lurks in the shadows. The story ends with all the prisoners mysteriously killed.

Cast

  • Robert Agengoas Pablo
  • Mwaura Bilal as Biggie
  • Cajetan Boy as Reverend
  • Andreo Kamau as Mustafa
  • Arabron Nyyneque as Amigo
  • Shiviske Shivisi as Dakari / Leah
  • Xavier Ywaya as Majuju
  • Maina wa Ndung'u as Driver
  • Mumbi Maina as Martha
  • Zawadi Kayyoh as Stacy
  • Gerald Langiri as Jacob {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13483050/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cst_sm |title=40 Sticks (2020) - IMDb |access-date=2024-12-16 |via=www.imdb.com}}

Production

The film is produced by SensePlay in partnership with Film Studios Kenya, Bingi Media and Ogopa Inc. It was shot in Nairobi across 5 locations over a 16-day shoot period in February 2019.{{Cite web|title=Kenyan thriller film '40 sticks' to premiere on Netflix|url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/sasa/entertainment/2020-11-05-kenyan-thriller-film-40-sticks-to-premiere-on-netflix//|access-date=2020-11-05|website=The Star|language=en-KE}}

Nominations and Awards

class="wikitable sortable"

|+

!Year

!Festival

!Category

!Recipient

!Result

!Reference

rowspan="12" |2020

| rowspan="12" |Kalasha International Film and TV Awards

|Best Lead Actor Film

|Robert Agengo

|Nominee

| rowspan="12" |{{Cite web |last=Dallah |first=Ommy |title=Kalasha Awards 2020: Mombasa Actor Leon Ongaya 'Mbura' Wins Best Lead Actor (Tv) Award |url=https://ommydalla.co.ke/buzz/item/1890-kalasha-awards-2020-mombasa-actor-leon-ongaya-mbura-wins-best-male-lead-actor-award |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=ommydalla.co.ke |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=KENYA FILM COMMISSION AWARDS KSH. 3 MILLION PRIZE MONEY TO THE WINNERS OF THE 10TH EDITION OF THE KALASHA INTERNATIONAL FILM AND TV AWARDS. – Kenya Film Commission |url=https://kenyafilmcommission.go.ke/news/kenya-film-commission-awards-ksh-3-million-prize-money-to-the-winners-of-the-10th-edition-of-the-kalasha-international-film-and-tv-awards/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=kenyafilmcommission.go.ke}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-23 |title=Kalasha International |url=https://kalasha.kenyafilmcommission.go.ke/awards-categories/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=KALASHA INTERNATIONAL FILM AND TV MARKET, FESTIVAL & AWARDS |language=en-US}}

Best Feature Film

|Sarah Hassan

|Winner

Best Supporting Actor in Film

|Cajetan Boy

|Winner

Best Supporting Actor in Film

|Arabron Nyyeneque

|Nominee

Best Director

|Victor Gatonye

|Winner

Best Editor

|Edwin Nyongesa

|Winner

Best Sound Design

|Lucas Bikedo

|Winner

Best Original Score

|Lucas Bikedo

|Nominee

Best Production Designer

|Siteiya Warui

|Winner

Best Original Screenplay

|Frank Maina, Voline Ogutu

|Winner

Best Lighting Technician

|Walter Odhiambo

|Winner

Best Special Effects

|Grace Murema

|Winner

rowspan="8" |2020

| rowspan="8" |Kisima Music and Film Awards

|Africa Best Feature Film

|

|Nominee

| rowspan="8" |{{Cite web |date=2020-12-08 |title=Kisima Music and Film Awards 2020: All the nominees |url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/kisima-music-and-film-awards-2020-all-nominees |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Music In Africa |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-12-08 |title=LIST: Nominees for Kisima Music & Film Awards 2020 |url=https://www.citizen.digital/lifestyle/list-nominees-for-the-kisima-music-film-awards-2020-1922597 |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Citizen Digital |language=en-KE}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6NzaHGDZvw |title=Kisima Music and Film Awards Live Stream |date=2020-12-13 |last=Kisima Music and Film Awards |access-date=2024-11-23 |via=YouTube}}

Africa Best Director

|Victor Gatonye

|Winner

Africa Best Producer

|Fakii Liwali

|Winner

Africa Best Lead Actor Film

|Robert Agengo

|Winner

Best Supporting Actor Film

|Cajetan Boy

|Winner

Best Supporting Actor Film

|Arabron Nyyeneque

|Nominee

Best Cinematography

|Enos Olik

|Nominee

Special Award Kenya: Best Feature Film Local

|

|Nominee

rowspan="8" |2020

| rowspan="8" |African Movie Academy Awards

|Best Actor in a Leading Role

|Robert Agengo, Mwaura Bilal, Andreo Kamau, Ywaya Xavier

|Nominee

| rowspan="8" |{{Cite web |date=2024-07-23 |title=AMAA Winners - Africa Movie Academy Awards |url=https://ama-awards.com/amaa-winners/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2020-12-03 |title=KENYAN FILM 40 STICKS LEADS AFRICA MOVIE ACADEMY AWARDS 2020 NOMINATIONS – Buzz Central |url=https://buzzcentral.co.ke/2020/12/kenyan-film-40-sticks-leads-africa-movie-academy-awards-2020-nominations/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |language=en-GB}}

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

|Arabron Nyyeneque

|Nominee

Best Director

|Victor Gatonye

|Nominee

Best Film

|Sarah Hassan

|Nominee

Best Screenplay

|Frank Maina, Voline Ogutu

|Nominee

Best Cinematography

|Enos Olik

|Nominee

Best Editing

|Edwin Nyongesa

|Nominee

Best Sound

|Lucas Bikedo

|Nominee

References

{{reflist}}