Softie is a 2020 Kenyan film, based on the life of political activist and photojournalist Boniface Mwangi and his family. The film, directed by Sam Soko (it is Soko's first feature documentary) first premiered internationally at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival where it won a special jury prize for editing. Softie, which premiered in Kenya on October 16, 2020, also won the Best Documentary at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) 2020. An award that has qualified the film for consideration for the Oscar documentary shortlist for the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony.
Film festivals The film has been screened at international film festivals including the Copenhagen International Documentary Festival, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and at the Encounters Festival South Africa where it won Best Film. Softie was also the opening film at the Hotdocs Film Festival and at the Human Rights Festival held in Berlin.
Plot The film tells the story of the protagonist Boniface Mwangi nicknamed "Softie," Kenyan slang for "wimp," in his childhood years but who has ironically turned out as one of the most daring and audacious activists in Kenya at the forefront of fighting injustices in the country. His activism and the constant danger the path he has chosen poses to his life and that of his family create tremendous turmoil between him and his wife Njeri Mwangi, who is protective of her family.
The film chronicles the activist's seven-year journey beginning with chaos-filled street protests and culminating in Boniface's decision to run for a political seat in his childhood neighborhood, Starehe constituency, where he is confronted by the reality of challenging strong political dynasties.
Cast
Boniface Mwangi as Self - Photojournalist - Activist Njeri Mwangi as Self Khadija Mohamed - Churchill as Self - Mwangi's Campaign Manager Charles Njagua Kanyi as Self - Mwangi's Opponent - aka Jaguar Uhuru Kenyatta as Self - President - Kenya (archive footage) Christopher Msando as Self - IT Manager - IEBC (archive footage) Raila Odinga as Self - Presidential Candidate (archive footage) William Ruto as Self - Deputy President - Kenya (archive footage)
Awards
World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Editing - Sundance Film Festival 2020 Best Film - The 22nd Encounters South African International Documentary Best Documentary - Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) 2020 +Awarding organisationCategoryYearNomineeResultSundance Film FestivalGrand Jury Prize2020Sam SokoSundance Film FestivalEditing Award2020Mila Aung-Thwin Ryan Mullins Sam SokoBregen International Film FestivalCheckpoints Awards2020Sam SokoDurban International Film FestivalBest Documentary2020SoftieInternational Documentary AwardBest Feature2021Sam Soko Toni KamauPGA AwardsOutstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures2021Sam Soko Toni KamauCinema for Peace AwardsCinema for Peace Dove for The Political Film of the Year2021SoftieCinema Eye Honors Awards, USThe Unforgettables2021Boniface MwangiCinema Eye Honors Awards, USOutstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film2021Sam SokoOne World Media AwardsBest Feature Documentary2021SoftieAfrican Movie Academy AwardsBest Documentary2021SoftieGuanajuato International Film FestivalBest international Documentary Feature2020Sam SokoEl Gouna Film FestivalFeature Documentary Competition (Golden Star)2020SoftieEl Gouna Film FestivalFeature Documentary Competition (Silver Star)2020SoftieHistory Film Festival Best Independent Film2021Softie
References
External links