''Poacher'' is a 2018

Kenyan ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

short film directed by Tom Whitworth. The film received wide international attention after its release in

Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...

in September 2020. It also became the first ever Kenyan film to be released via Netflix.

Plot

Shot in a dramatic film format, ''Poacher'' tells the story of a desperate farmer who runs into trouble after stealing a stash of blood ivory from a gang of international terrorists. The film seeks to highlight the significant international issue of illegal ivory trade by addressing the plight of Africa's endangered elephant population.

Cast

* Brian Ogola as Mutua * Davina Leonard as Nicola Betts * Lenny Juma as Juma * Shiviske Shivisi as Ngina * Olwenya Maina as Hassan

Production

''Poacher'' was filmed over six days in the

Tsavo West National Park Tsavo West National Park is located in the Coast Province of Kenya. The park covers an area of 9,065 square kilometres. The A109 road Nairobi-Mombasa and a railway divides it from the adjoining Tsavo East National Park. Together with adjoining ...

to the South East of Kenya's capital, Nairobi. The production involved over 30 cast and crew members. Director Tom Whitworth teased the first official still of the film on 10 April 2018, announcing that cinematography was by Nathan Prior and Ishmael Azeli. It was revealed that the short film was originally envisioned as a TV drama.

Release

''Poacher (2018)'' was released in August 2018, having been screened at the Short To The Point (STTP) Festival, and been selected for a ''Best Editing'' Award. The film premiered in Kenya at the ANGA IMAX Theatre on 10 November 2018 at the ''Kalasha International Film Awards'' in

Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper ha ...

. ''Poacher'' has also screened at the 2018 ''Moscow Shorts International Short Film Festival'' in September 2018 in

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...

. The film was streamed via Netflix on 30 September 2020.

Accolades

* Nominated for ''Best Short Film, Best Director, Best Director of Photography, Best Supporting Actor in a Film'' and ''Best Actor in a Film'' for the

8th Kalasha TV & Film Awards The 8th Kalasha TV & Film Awards ceremony, presented by the Kenya Film Commission (KFC), will honor the best Kenyan films of 2018 and will take place at the Safari Park Hotel, along Thika Road, in Nairobi, Kenya. The ceremony will be held on ...

. * Award for Best Short Film at the

in Nairobi, Kenya on 24 November 2018.

References

External links

* * {{Netflix title 2018 films 2018 short films Swahili-language films Films set in 2018 British drama short films Kenyan short films