Call Me Queen Will Premiere in Nairobi This October
Director Emily Atef's new film exploring HIV inequality is set to debut at the NBO Film Festival on October 17, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in LGBTQand
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Director Emily Atef will debut her upcoming film Call Me Queen at the NBO Film Festival in Nairobi on October 17, 2026. Based on Lara Santoro's novel Mercy, the story follows a Rwandan refugee's life in 1999 Nairobi.
Why it matters
The film addresses critical issues surrounding HIV inequality and the historic challenges related to accessing life-saving medical treatment. It frames these themes through the lens of a friendship between a refugee and a journalist.
The production is based on Lara Santoro's novel Mercy and features a cast including Eliane Umuhire and Dominic West. It is scheduled for a wide cinema release across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda on October 30, 2026.
The players
Emily Atef
She is the director and co-screenwriter of the film who is known for her work in international cinema.
Eliane Umuhire
She is an actress who portrays the central character of Queen Achungo in the film.
Dominic West
He is an internationally recognized actor who joins the ensemble cast for this production.
The details
Set against the backdrop of 1999 Nairobi, the film tells the story of Rwandan refugee Queen Achungo as she navigates systemic barriers to healthcare. The narrative centers on a poignant friendship between Achungo and a journalist while highlighting their collective struggle against unequal access to HIV treatment.
Timeline
The film story is set in 1999.
The film premieres at the NBO Film Festival on October 17, 2026.
The film opens in East African cinemas on October 30, 2026.
Culture Shift
The film reflects a broader cultural shift toward historical narratives that center on the human impact of global health inequities. It follows a pattern set by the 1999 Nairobi HIV treatment access crisis by dramatizing the systemic barriers to care that defined that era.
Audiences across East Africa can plan to access the film in cinemas starting October 30, 2026. Following the theatrical run, viewers will also have the option to watch the production online via the Yakwetu platform.
The takeaway
This film serves as a reminder of the historical progress made in medical accessibility since the late 1990s. Readers can explore the history of HIV advocacy to better understand the systemic challenges depicted in the movie.
What happens next
The film will premiere at the NBO Film Festival on October 17, 2026, followed by a wide theatrical release in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda on October 30, 2026, and a subsequent digital release on the Yakwetu platform.
Further reading
Learn more about the intersection of media and community advocacy in our LGBTQand section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Monitor.
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