Wambui Ndegwa is a Kenyan-born film director and producer best known for her critically acclaimed debut feature film, 'Kati Kati'.
Wambui was born in Nyeri, Kenya, and raised in Nairobi. From a young age, she was drawn to the arts, and especially film. Wambui was encouraged by her parents, both of whom were academics, to pursue her dreams of filmmaking.
Wambui went on to study film at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She graduated in 2013 with a degree in film and television. After completing her studies, Wambui returned to Kenya to work in the film industry.
Wambui began her career in the Kenyan film industry as an assistant director. She worked on several short films and television shows in Kenya before making her feature film directorial debut with 'Kati Kati'. The film, which premiered in 2016, was a critical success and won several awards, including Best Feature Film at the Africa International Film Festival.
In addition to directing, Wambui has also been involved in producing films. She was the executive producer of 'Nairobi Half Life', a 2012 feature film, and the co-producer of the 2017 feature film 'Rafiki', which was the first Kenyan film to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
Wambui is a passionate advocate for the representation of African stories in film. She has spoken at festivals and events around the world about why it is important to tell African stories and to showcase the diversity of African voices.
Wambui’s work has been showcased at several international film festivals, including the Berlin International Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Tribeca Film Festival. She has been nominated for several awards, including the Best Director award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards for her work on 'Kati Kati'.
Wambui is a dedicated filmmaker whose work is an inspiration to African filmmakers. She is passionate about telling stories that are often overlooked, and her work has given African filmmakers the opportunity to be seen and heard on a global stage.
