We all love a good story – on the internet, via a blog or the old fashioned way in books or by watching a great movie. Stories connect us to the world, new places and, once in a while, a really good story connects us to our inner selves. Growing up in a family of writers and creatives, Judy Kibinge was around stories from the time she was a young girl. Yet when she decided to pursue a degree in Design and Communication Media her parents were not too happy. They were hoping for something “more serious” from the Kenya High student. But Judy was clear and in time her bet paid off, big time. After graduating from the Manchester Metropolitan University she landed a job with McCann Erickson, one of the biggest advertising agencies in the world. Working out of their regional office in Nairobi her tenacity saw her rise steadily to be the first African Creative Director at the agency. Ten years in with success under her belt and a collection of award winning adverts to prove her skills, she was at a crossroads. She had loved her work but it just was not working for her anymore. The love of storytelling had gotten devoured by corporate expectations and continual deadlines.
A decade into an amazing career with perks and pay cheques we can only dream of, she did the unthinkable – she quit.
Without much of a plan but eager for change in 1999 she embarked on a new path – filmmaking. She had links from her advertising days who could help teach her the nuances of the craft and she knew what Kenyans audiences enjoyed. She wanted to see the Kenyan story and who better to bring it to life than her? The process into an independent journey was tough, requiring a lot of sacrifice. Two years later a film Judy co-wrote and directed – ‘Dangerous Affairs’ premiered and guess what? It was a hit. Showcasing the path of an urban Kenyan love triangle it confirmed what she thought all along – we were hungry to see our own stories on the big screen. In 2003, the film won the award for the Best East African Production at the Zanzibar Film Festival.
The award proved to Judy that she was onto something and she dove wholeheartedly into her new role as filmmaker. Her next project was bringing to life compelling stories through documentaries as she transitioned into the creation of fact-based films. Yet again, belief in self paid off when she completed her first documentary, ‘The Aftermath’ in 2003. Judy had found her home. Her feature ‘Coming of Age’, was awarded Best Documentary in 2008 at the Kenya International Film Festival and in 2013 her film ‘Something Necessary’ was screened at the Toronto Film Festival.
Aware of the talent within Kenya, and attuned to the difficulties in raising money for films in a country with many pressing everyday problems Judy founded DocuBox – a documentary film fund which aims to transform the film industry within East Africa. She is dedicated to opening the way for young aspiring filmmakers to follow their dream craft and tell our stories. She is especially keen on the stories that shine a light on our society’s challenges. DocuBox now holds monthly screenings at different universities to promote documentaries written and directed by aspiring filmmakers. The team encourages local filmmakers to showcase more work that proudly represents various cultures within Africa.
In recognition of her services to the film industry Judy was nominated by other international filmmakers to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, better known as The Academy that awards the Oscars, and in July 2017 she was the first Kenyan Filmmaker invited into the ultra-exclusive academy. She now gets to vote on which films win an Oscar each year! But in addition she is an anchor for our region connecting other aspiring individuals in film to the world of Hollywood and beyond.
Judy Kibinge is not only an excellent filmmaker – she’s a titan, a connector and at heart a storyteller. We couldn’t love her more!