Skip to main content
Searching for Amani film image; man looking through a camcorder

Years after his father’s murder, thirteen-year-old Simon Ali dreams of becoming a journalist and begins searching for the killers, frustrated by the lack of answers. His father worked as a ranger for the Laikipia Conservancy, Kenya’s largest private sanctuary, for over 20 years, and Simon suspects the nomadic pastoral tribes who would trespass through the conservancy were behind the attack. But as Simon’s investigation reveals the complexity of local conflicts and global forces beyond his control, he begins to reflect on his father’s final word, amani – Swahili for peace — and the legacy he wants to cultivate.

Directors Nicole Gormley and Debra Aroko anchor their documentary around Simon’s personal story while weaving in ambitious explorations of the colonialist history of Kenya and wildlife conservation, the deep-rooted conflict between local farmers, rangers, and traditional herders, and the effects of climate change-inflicted droughts on traditional ways of life. An unflinching chronicle of postcolonial upheaval and one family’s choice to search for peace in the face of tragedy.

 

Media Partner

Directors
Featuring

Simon Ali

Credits
Country of Origin

USA/Kenya

Year

2024

Language

In Swahili and English with English subtitles

Film Contact
Links
Content Warning

Violence

PG

Open to youth!

80 min
Documentary Human Rights & Social Justice U18 May Attend Women Directors
Backroads Pictures, Nicole Gormley Films

Book Tickets

Friday October 04

10:30 am
Closed Captioning Hearing Assistance Subtitles U18 May Attend
International Village 8
Book Now

Saturday October 05

7:00 pm
Closed Captioning Hearing Assistance Subtitles U18 May Attend
International Village 8
Book Now

Credits & Director

Executive Producer

Geralyn Dreyfous, David and Linda Cornfield, Randy Gebhardt, Christopher Gebhardt, Janet Tittiger, Gottfried Tittiger, Peter Tittiger, Paula Kahumbu

Producer

Nicole Gormley, Peter Goetz, Mungai Kiroga, Caryn Capotosto

Screenwriter

Vickie Curtis, Peter Goetz, Debra Aroko

Cinematography

Campbell Brewer

ANIM

Mai The Vu

Editor

Tessa Malsam, Davis Coombe

Original Music

David Naroth, Monica Sonand, David Fleming

Nicole Gormley headshot; Searching for Amani director

Nicole Gormley

Nicole is a documentary filmmaker, photographer, and ocean advocate with a focus on telling stories that inspire people to value their relationship with the natural world. She believes in the power of storytelling and its ability to increase empathy and create impact. She has produced projects in over fifty countries for several of the world’s leading media outlets including Netflix’s Emmy-nominated series Ugly Delicious (2020) and dozens of international expeditions for brands and networks. Nicole’s directing work includes the award-winning short films, Lessons From Jeju (2020), The Monster in Our Closet (2022), and Daughter of the Sea (2023).

Debra Aroko headshot; Searching for Amani director

Debra Aroko

Debra is a Kenyan filmmaker and producer with a passion for telling stories that capture the nuanced realities of communities facing the effects of a global climate crisis. Her work seeks to highlight the challenges they face while also exploring the resilience and hope that sustains them. Debra serves as a producer at the Solutions Storytelling Project, supported by the Skoll Foundation, overseeing the production of 19 short documentary films from across the African continent. The project connects African filmmakers with social innovators to create solutions-focused films that inspire positive change in their communities.

Insights

See more films in this series

Blink
Blink film image; people in hiking gear sitting along rocky hillside

Blink

Dir. Edmund Stenson & Daniel Roher
84 min

When their kids start going blind, Edith and Sébastien Pelletier take their family on a globe-trotting adventure to see the world before they lose their sight. An inspirational journey of reflection, self-discovery, and heartwarming family connection.

International Village 10 International Village 9

Balomania

Dir. Sissel Morell Dargis
93 min

In the labyrinthine underworld of São Paulo, Sissell Morell Dargis spent a decade documenting the story of illegal baloeiros, hot air balloonists, and guerilla artists, who risk their lives crafting and releasing huge, lavishly decorated paper balloons.

International Village 10 International Village 8
Living With Wolves
Living With Wolves film image; wolf walks through the snow

Living With Wolves

Dir. Jean-Michel Bertrand
88 min

This fascinating and beautiful doc explores wolf life in the lower Alps, as well as the contentious politics surrounding the animals. As an exploration of ecology, it’s illuminating; as a gander at the great outdoors, it’s delightful.

International Village 9 International Village 10

Unlikely Allies

Dir. Anthony Pedone
95 min

What does it take to unite right-wing billionaire Charles Koch with hip hop legend Snoop Dogg? This urgent and uplifting film documents an extraordinary response to an appalling injustice: a young man sentenced to 55 years for three marijuana sales.

International Village 10 International Village 9

The Chef & the Daruma

Dir. Mads K. Baekkevold
90 min

The inventor of the California Roll, chef Hidekazu Tojo helped bring sushi to mainstream popularity through his renowned Vancouver restaurant, Tojo's. The Chef & the Daruma is a mouthwatering film touching on immigration, identity, and reinvention.

SFU Woodwards VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre Fifth Avenue Aud 3

Democracy Noir

Dir. Connie Field
90 min

As Viktor Orbán dismantles Hungary’s democratic institutions, three women--a journalist, a politician, and a nurse--work tirelessly to fight for their country’s soul. A chilling exposé of far-right nationalism and an inspirational beacon of resistance.

The Cinematheque VIFF Centre - Vancity Theatre

At Averroes & Rosa Parks

Dir. Nicolas Philibert
143 min

Averroès and Rosa Parks are psychiatric units in Paris supporting patients with mental illness. A powerful, thought-provoking follow-up to 2023 Golden Bear winner On the Adamant by veteran documentarian Nicolas Philibert.

The Cinematheque VIFF Centre - Vancity Theatre

Fish War

Dir. Jeff Ostenson, Charles Atkinson & Skylar Wagner
79 min

This deep dive into the contentious history of fishing rights in Washington State proves richly rewarding. It's a genuinely compelling film about the transformative Boldt decree of 1974, which granted PNW bands equal status in fish management.

SFU Woodwards Fifth Avenue Aud 3
Curl Power
Curl Power film image; group of girls wearing a team uniform

Curl Power

Dir. Josephine Anderson
85 min

This uplifting documentary follows a curling team from Maple Ridge as they navigate the uncertainties of their teenage years and strive to become Canadian Junior Curling Champions with coaching from three of their moms, who are former Olympians.

SFU Woodwards

Searching for Amani

Dir. Nicole Gormley & Debra Aroko
80 min

Years after his father's murder while working in Kenya’s largest private wildlife sanctuary, 13-year-old Simon Ali searches for the killers. An unflinching chronicle of postcolonial upheaval and one family’s choice to search for peace.

International Village 8
The Thinking Game
The Thinking Game film image; man touching a spiral art sculpture

The Thinking Game

Dir. Greg Kohs
83 min

Through in-depth interviews, cutting-edge technological demonstrations, and the unrelenting ambition of Demis Hassabis, The Thinking Game follows innovative AI research company, DeepMind, as it works towards AGI (Artificial General Intelligence).

International Village 10 International Village 9

Ninan Auassat: We, the Children

Dir. Kim O’Bomsawin
93 min

Shot over six years, this groundbreaking documentary brings us the moving stories of three groups of youth from three different Indigenous nations. With no adult voices included in the film, we meet a new generation with a burning desire to be heard.

SFU Woodwards