EXCLUSIVE: New Mountain Movies has acquired North American rights to Nawi: Expensive Future Me, Kenya’s submission for Finest Worldwide Characteristic on the 2025 Oscars.
The Kenyan-German drama, impressed by true occasions, follows a 13-year-old woman in rural Kenya whose father trades her into marriage in trade for livestock. On her marriage ceremony evening, she escapes, strolling alone to Nairobi to pursue an training. When she learns that her toddler sister is being compelled to take her place, Nawi returns to confront her household.
The film, which just lately screened on the UN Fee on the Standing of Ladies in New York, is co-directed by Toby and Kevin Schmutzler, Apuu Mourine, and Vallentine Chelluget, with a script by Kevin and Toby Schmutzler and based mostly on a narrative by Milcah Cherotich.
The lead position is portrayed by Michelle Lemuya Ikeny in her characteristic debut.
The movie has earned accolades together with the Africa Film Academy Award for Finest Newcomer, the Particular Jury Award at Beijing’s BJIFF (Tiantan Awards), and twin wins at Raindance.
The deal was negotiated instantly between Sabbour and the filmmakers at FilmCrew Media: Kevin and Toby Schmutzler and producer Lydia Wrensch. New Mountain is at present focusing on a February 2026 theatrical launch throughout the U.S. and Canada. Atlas Worldwide handles worldwide gross sales.
In Kenya, producers say the movie has raised $300,000 via its affect marketing campaign, which incorporates the opening of a primary all-girls boarding faculty. A cell desert cinema tour is launching this summer season to deliver the movie to distant villages. The challenge has garnered assist from organisations together with UNICEF, Ladies Not Brides, and Ladies First Fund.
“Nawi is precisely the form of story we really feel compelled to share—courageous, fantastically made, and not possible to disregard,” stated Khaled Sabbour, founder and CEO of New Mountain Movies. “It’s not solely been acknowledged by the worldwide movie neighborhood, however has ignited real-world change. We’re honoured to deliver it to North American audiences.”
