Mbithi Masya to debut 'Baba' film at Toronto International Film Festival

Celebrated Kenyan film director Mbithi Masya will showcase his latest 15-minute short film by LBx Africa- Baba at the 47th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) scheduled to take place from September 8th to 18th 2022.

LBx Africa is the company that produced Oscar Academy Award-nominated film Watu Wote and audience favorite award winning film, Softie.

Alongside Baba, LBx will also debut Free Money at the prestigious Film Festival.

Baba, directed by multi-talented award winning Mbithi Masya, is a short fiction film about a day in the life of a 6-year-old boy who subconsciously tries to protect his innocence through his superpower - imagined or otherwise - of teleportation.

This will be Mbithi's second film at the festival after KatiKati, which premiered at TIFF in 2016 and won the FIPRESCI prize for the discovery programme. LBx Africa's Bramwel Iro Produced the film with Wafa Tajdin. The star-studded cast includes veteran, Mbeki Mwalimu, Faith Kibathi, Malik Wandera, Victor Makgati, Eyal Francis, Daniel James, Nicholas Mwangi and Beatrice Kamuyu.

"Instead of a heavy-handed story about abuse, I wanted the film to be focused on the effects of abuse rather than the violent acts themselves. It is about the loss of innocence, the coping mechanisms that take over when mind and body become detached from each other to survive imminent danger, and fighting to protect our innocence and humanity.

There is no way that a short film can fully address abuse, and to force it do so would be a disservice to the issues. This is a tiny glimpse from this child's perspective to witness how he is actively trying to protect himself". Mbithi Masya says about the film

Watch Baba trailer here