A Kenyan film inspired by a terrorist attack in Kenya has become the first film shot in the country to win a Student Oscar Award.The film is based on a true story, following a terror attack in Mandera. Back in December 2015, a group of Kenyan Muslims travelling on a bus were ambushed by Islamist gunmen. The terrorists, in an attempt to separate the Christians from the Muslims, with the expected slaughter to follow afterwards, had their efforts thwarted when the Muslim travellers protected their Christian counterparts by refusing to be split into groups.

At least two people were killed in the attack however, near the north-eastern village of El Wak on the Somali border.

The film’s main aim was to show that terror attacks are not based on religion but rather on few radical individuals with ill motives.

As per the short description of the short film on IMDB which reads “For a decade Kenya has been targeted by terrorist attacks of the Al-Shabaab. An atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust between Muslims and Christians is growing. Until in December 2015, Muslim bus passengers showed that solidarity can prevail.” 

The short film was directed by Katja Benrath and written by Julia Drache & Brian Munene. Among the key stars that featured in the short film included Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, Mahad Ahmed.

Katja Benrath from Hamburg Media School won in the student narrative category of the student Oscars and now the film can be submitted to the main Oscars scheduled for next year.