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The Return film image; group of people standing side by side

The Return

Enchukunoto

VIFF Short Forum

Malih returns to her community as the first Maasai filmmaker—both an insider and an outsider, a woman amongst men—so that she may carry on the sacred tradition of storytelling.

 

Supported by

    

Community Partner

Director
Featuring

Dukuya Lekominga, Nderi Lolinge, Patrick Ole Saikong, Reuben Legei, Clinto Lekominga, Rupes Caro

Credits
Country of Origin

Kenya

Year

2024

Language

In Maasai, Samburu and English with English subtitles

Film Contact
Links
18+
16 min
Award Winners Black Cinema Documentary Shorts Women Directors
Nia Tero, Upstander Project Production

Credits & Director

Executive Producer

Tracy Rector

Producer

Kavita Pillay, Tracy Rector, Adam Mazo, Taylor Hensel

Screenwriter

Laissa Malih, Kavita Pillay

Cinematography

Franklyne Mudulia Manono

Editor

Sauli Pillay

Original Music

Soundstripe, Moments

Laissa Malih headshot; The Return director

Laissa Malih

Laissa Malih is the first female Maasai filmmaker. Her work focuses on documenting, linking, amplifying, and scaling up youth and women’s voices across diverse Indigenous cultures in Kenya and the world. Her 2020 documentary, River of Brown Waters (2020), looks at the significance of the Ewaso Ng’iro, a river that serves as a lifeline for pastoralist communities surrounding Mount Kenya. In addition to film work, Malih has participated in international conferences and fellowships focused on climate adaptation and cultural legacy.

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