01
Kenyan on Mars
DOCUMENTARY SHORTDirector, Producer
A space enthusiast and analogue astronaut who hopes to one day be Kenya’s ambassador to Mars.
VIEW
FILMMAKER · DIRECTOR · WRITER
STORIES BY
LYDIA MATATA
NAIROBI, KENYA — GLOBAL
STATEMENTA FILMMAKER
A FILMMAKER
INTERESTED IN
PEOPLE.
Lydia Matata is a filmmaker based in Nairobi, Kenya, whose work explores the people, issues, and experiences that move her.
Her latest documentary, Kenyan on Mars, is currently screening on Al Jazeera’s Africa Direct platform. She is also one of the writers of Country Queen, Kenya’s first original Netflix series.
LYDIA MATATA, NAIROBI
01 / SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
02
Pepo Kali
NARRATIVE FEATUREWriter, Director, ProducerIn Development
After a biker dies in a riding accident, her mother learns to ride to process her grief.
03
Float
NARRATIVE SHORTWriter, Director
A teenage competitive swimmer’s passion for the water turns to fear — until an unexpected friendship helps her remember what makes her body great.
ADDITIONAL SELECTED WORKS
04
Sungura
NARRATIVE SHORTWriter, Director, Producer05
Country Queen
SERIESWriter06
Igiza
SERIESWriter07
Take Back The Mic Africa Project
COMMISSIONDirector, Producer08
Painting Boscombe
DOCUMENTARY SHORTDirector, Producer, Editor (2025)09
Arrival
DOCUMENTARY SHORTDirector, Producer, Editor (2025)10
Utapata Mwingine
DOCUMENTARY SHORTDirector, Producer, Cinematographer (2021)11
A Conversation Between Two Artists
EXPERIMENTAL PORTRAITDirector, Cinematographer, Editor12
Mothers of Mathare
DOCUMENTARY SHORTDirector, Producer, Cinematographer13
The Sky Will Not Fall
DOCUMENTARY SHORTAssistant Producer14
A Wake Up Call
DOCUMENTARY SHORTAssistant ProducerPEOPLE & PROCESSBEHIND EVERY
BEHIND EVERY
FRAME IS
A PERSON.
STILLS FROM THE FIELD
FROM NAIROBI.
LOOKING OUTWARD.
HUMAN STORIES.
04 / RECOGNITION & FESTIVALS
Red Sea Lab Production PrizePepo Kali
Center Frame Development PrizePepo Kali
Great Lakes Producer’s Lab Development PrizePepo Kali
Best Women in FilmBlackstar International Film Festival
Best Extended CinemaMalatesta Short Film Festival
NomineePan African Film and Arts Festival
Best African DocumentaryUrusaro Women’s Film Festival
Best Emerging FilmmakerUN Women’s Global Voices Film Festival2021
PEOPLE & ORGANIZATIONS I’VE WORKED WITH
05 / ABOUT THE ARTIST
LYDIA MATATA
Lydia Matata is a filmmaker based in Nairobi, Kenya, whose work explores the people, issues, and experiences that move her. Her latest documentary, Kenyan on Mars, is currently screening on Al Jazeera’s Africa Direct platform. She is also one of the writers of Country Queen, Kenya’s first original Netflix series.
She recently wrote and directed the narrative short Float, selected in the Sparks Junior category at the Kurzfilmtage Winterthur Film Festival and screened at the Lucas International Film Festival, Brussels International Women’s Film Festival and Fame Short Film Festival in Cape Town.
Lydia wrote and directed the short film Sungura, screened at the Interfilm International Short Film Festival and the Cannes Pan African Film Festival. Her documentary Utapata Mwingine received the Best Emerging Filmmaker Award at the UN Women Global Voices Film Festival in 2021.
Lydia is currently developing her debut fiction feature Pepo Kali, awarded the Red Sea Film Festival’s Production Prize. A proof-of-concept version of the feature premiered at the New York African Film Festival. She recently completed an MA in Directing as a Chevening Scholar in the UK.
MA in Directing Film and Television (Chevening Scholarship)
University of Bournemouth, United Kingdom — 2024 – 2025
BA in Social Communications
The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kenya — 2009 – 2012
Fellow, American Film Showcase
USA — 2024
Participated with a documentary in development called Chovu.
Fellow, UNESCO & Nara International Film Festival Residency for African Women Filmmakers
Japan — 2023
Shot, directed and edited a short documentary between Kenya and Japan.
Fellow, One World Media
United Kingdom — 2021
Directed and produced the short documentary Utapata Mwingine as part of the programme.
06 / CONTACTHAVE A
HAVE A
STORY?
LET’S TALK.
GENERAL INQUIRIESlydiamatata89@gmail.com
COLLABORATIONS & FILM
Direct commissions, narrative directing, documentary co-productions, and editorial talks.
LOCATION
Nairobi, Kenya · Available worldwide
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