Mandazi Films – Creative Works by Manda Mutai

Director | Writer

Manda
Mutai

Manda is the Founder of Mandazi Films and is a Kenyan-American Director, Writer, and Actor based in Chicago.

Manda Mutai operating an old film camera.

mandazifilms

‘Tis the season! I’m so excited to share a f

‘Tis the season!

I’m so excited to share a few stills from “Sunday School Kisses” , a film that I wrote and directed about two queer women who reconnect by traveling back to a site of nostalgia, their childhood church, with the new perspective of years apart. Special thanks to everyone who worked on this film and I can't wait for y’all to see the finished product!! ✨

Starring: Rita Wicks (@tayyyritaaaa) and Francesca Bucci (@francescabucci) 💕

Written + Directed by Manda Mutai
Creative Producer: Keiph Oliver (@justkeiph)
Assistant Producer: Prinae Pillay (@prinaeee)
AD: Emma Hutchinson (@emmanhutch)
DoP: Malina Baer (@malina.baer)
1st AC: Erica Shae (@ericalong01),
2nd AC: Cee Pham (@cee.thi)
Sound: Ryan Gallerani (@rmgallerani),
Gaffer: Drew Tieng (@drewtieng)
G&E: Jessica Goska (@jessicagoska), Logan Parrish (@lfparrish29), Ganlin Yang
Dolly Grip: Lucas Byron (@lucasbyron4)
Storyboard Artist: Kylie Ramirez (@kyky816)
Production Designer: Blake Dreher (@b.whitney)
Art Hand: Abby West (@abby.west7497)
Editor: Audrey Weber (@audreytvincent), Manda Mutai
Scripty: Vansh Haridas (@princess_charming24276), Alaina Williams (@laina_grace13)
Intimacy Coordinator: Molly Fryda (@smollyfryda)
DIT: Paloma Colon (@paloma_colon)
BTS: Alaina Williams (@laina_grace13)

And finally, our Direction Team for THE KID! Mand

And finally, our Direction Team for THE KID!

Manda Mutai (she/they) - Writer/Director

Manda is the Founder of @mandazifilms and is a writer/director based in Chicago. Her work pushes the boundaries of the coming-of-age genre and features radial and expensive stories from a queer Kenyan-American perspective.

Summer Cortes (she/her) - 1st AD
Summer is a Latinx writer, director, producer, based out of Chicago. My films disregard black-and-white thinking and instead communicate the vulnerable side of the human experience, which includes living in the discomfort of the "gray" area.

Kaity Holmes (she/her) - 2nd AD
Hi! I’m Kaity Holmes, a junior Film and TV production student at DePaul University concentrating in Creative Producing. I’m incredibly excited to be working on this project, and I can’t wait to pet the goats!!

But wait, there's more! Introducing the Art Team f

But wait, there's more!
Introducing the Art Team for THE KID

Pavit Gandhi (she/her) - Production Design
Pavit is an independent filmmaker and photographer born and raised in India. She moved to Chicago to pursue her Master’s in Fine Arts in Film and Television Directing. Her inspiration comes from capturing the extraordinary mundane moments in time and portraying them through an unconventional lens.

Kira Helm (they/them) - Costume Design
Kira is a Black, Non-Binary filmmaker currently getting their MFA in Film/TV Directing at Depaul University. Their work leans experimental, using avant garde techniques to explore themes surrounding memory, identity, and familial ties.

Bailey Broniewicz (she/her) - Makeup Artist/Scripty
Bailey is a recent DePaul grad with a BA in Film and Television Production and English Literature. She is super excited to take on multiple roles for The Kid and can't wait to make things CREEPY!

aaaand that’s a wrap! (we wrapped about 2 weeks

aaaand that’s a wrap! (we wrapped about 2 weeks ago, but still!) This was no small feat and I’m truly thankful for this amazing cast and crew, and everyone who supported this film! 🫶🏾

More BTS photos to come 🤩

Introducing our amazing small and mighty sound tea

Introducing our amazing small and mighty sound team for THE KID!!

Hannah Mae (she/her) - Sound Mixer/Boom Op
Howdy! I’m Hannah Mae, the Location Sound Mixer for The Kid. I’ve worked in film production audio for a little over a year now. Although I very recently became a part of the crew, I’m excited to work on this set and capture the sound that’ll help set the foundation for this film.

Congratulations!! We officially reached 80% of our

Congratulations!! We officially reached 80% of our goal and have the Greenlight to dive into production this week.

Please continue to share The Kid so we can get the rest of the way to 100%, and shout out to @seedandspark for putting us on the front page of Nearly Funded projects!

So much love to all of of our supporters and I hope you're enjoying the rewards. You all are the best <3<3

Introducing our exceptional G&E team for THE KID!!

Introducing our exceptional G&E team for THE KID!!

Aylene Lopez (she/her) - Gaffer
Aylene Lopez is a Mexican-American, Chicago-based filmmaker who graduated from DePaul University with a concentration in cinematography. She specializes in the lighting department, however, where she strives to create dynamic, atmospheric visuals inspired by her interest in the fine arts. Her goals are to work as a lighting technician and eventually as a best boy electric and/or gaffer within the film and commercial industry in Chicago.

Meredith Smith (they/them) - Key Grip
(Not pictured)

Ally Polly (she/her) - Best Boy Grip
Hi I'm ally, I'll be best boy grip on this shoot. I'm an undergrad student and I'm excited to work on The Kid!

Logan Parrish (he/him) - Best Boy Electric
My name is Logan and I’m a directing BFA who mainly works in G&E and Camera Crew. I’m a huge horror fan, and one of my top horror movies is the original Scream.

We're almost there! Thanks to your incredible supp

We're almost there! Thanks to your incredible support, we've reached 73% of our funding goal and are just $770 away from getting the Greenlight to make this film!

Please continue to share and support us in the final FIVE days of our @seedandspark campaign!!

Meet the Producers for THE KID! Keiph Oliver (he/h

Meet the Producers for THE KID!
Keiph Oliver (he/him) - Creative Producer
Keiph is a Chicago born & raised writer, director, producer, and frequent performer. He is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Film and Television Comedy Filmmaking from DePaul University. His films raise questions about human behaviors and tendencies, often using humor and satire as aids in telling stories about idiosyncratic subjects and topics. He started as a writer and producer for comedian Sammy Obeid. Keiph is a proponent of “you get out what you put in,” which is evident through his commitment and work ethic. IG: @justkeiph

Adithya Rajan (he/him) - Producer
Adi is an Electrical Engineering graduate from the University of Illinois. He works as a Product Manager, which allows him to exercise both his engineering and entrepreneurial skills. Adi is an aspiring filmmaker with a huge passion for directing and writing, and currently pursuing an MFA in Film & Television Directing at DePaul University. He is very passionate about promoting Indian Cinema and South Asian Stories through his films.

Emilio Araujo (he/they) - Producer
Emilio grew up in Chicago and works as the Director of Development and Communications at Onward House, a community centered nonprofit in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood. After being tasked with catering for multiple Mandazi Films projects in recent years, Emilio is proud to bring their fundraising expertise to this pivotal project.

Vansh K. Haridas (he/she) - Associate Producer
Vansh is a writer, producer, and actor. He is currently getting his undergraduate degree in Film and Television at DePaul University with a concentration in showrunning. He is passionate about diversity in film and likes to create and support stories about families, healing, queerness, community, race, and power. His stories emphasize characters and relationships to demonstrate complex and thought-provoking themes.

There are only seven days left to support our crow

There are only seven days left to support our crowdfunding campaign for THE KID and we're only $1,135 away from a greenlight!

We need your support now more than ever to share this project! It's the final hour and every gift counts, no matter how small!❤️

Link in Bio

Introducing our incredible Camera Team for THE KID

Introducing our incredible Camera Team for THE KID!!

Amarillys Velasquez (she/they) - Director of Photography
I’m a Chicago-based cinematographer who recently graduated with a BFA in Film and Television. Outside of film, I love to play old video games, watch nostalgic cartoons, and go on long car rides with my siblings.

Sofia Santos (she/her) - 1st AC
(Not pictured)

Hunter Nealey (they/them)- 2nd AC
My name is Hunter and I’m a cinematography BFA who works on Camera Team! I’m a huge TV lover and I’m currently binging What We Do In the Shadows!!

African folk stories were a huge part of my childh

African folk stories were a huge part of my childhood. My five siblings and I would listen to my dad telling us about Anansi the Spider or The Lion and the Jackal. My newest film, The Kid, is based on one of these stories.

Check the link in my bio to learn more!

Thank you to everyone who pledged and shared The K

Thank you to everyone who pledged and shared The Kid! We are already more than halfway to our goal ❤️

Please continue to share this project far and wide. We're gearing up for a spectacular shoot in just a few weeks, and we can't do it without your support.

Link to the Seed&Spark is in my bio.

THE KID is the newest film project by Mandazi Film

THE KID is the newest film project by Mandazi Films.

More coming soon . . .🤫

Looking for dope black actors!! If you know anyone

Looking for dope black actors!! If you know anyone who might be interested, please send them my way 🫶🏾 (THIS IS A PAID GIG)

ANGRY DRUMMER GIRL is finally here!! Thank you t

ANGRY DRUMMER GIRL is finally here!!

Thank you to everyone who made this possible and huge s/o to the lovely @theisiselizabeth_ and @curlyhairnocare 🥰

Link in bio - password is ADG2023

Some BTS from ANGRY DRUMMER GIRL 🙂

Some BTS from ANGRY DRUMMER GIRL :)

A few stills from the upcoming short ANGRY DRUMMER

A few stills from the upcoming short ANGRY DRUMMER GIRL!

Looking for queer femme actors!!!

Synopsis: Iris’ monotonous life is rattled when she runs into Ravyn, her childhood best friend, whom she hasn't spoken to in 5 years. There's a little tension between them at first, but as the night progresses they begin to connect in a new way. Through the reunion, they discover new things about themselves and begin to redefine their own relationship with each other.

If you know anyone who might be interested, please send them my way 🥰

ANGRY DRUMMER GIRL Full Short Coming Soon Starrin

ANGRY DRUMMER GIRL
Full Short Coming Soon

Starring: Isis Elizabeth (@theisiselizabeth_) & Jillian Ebanks (@curlyhairnocare)
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