When most people think of Christmas movies, they imagine snow, Santa, and city lights. But for Shirleen Wangari, the founder of Blackwell Films, Christmas looks like 1992 Nairobi — bustling matatus, soulful music, and a country full of grit and laughter.
Her debut feature, Cards on the Table: A Christmas Movie, premiering on November 29, 2025, at Century Cinemax Garden City, marks a bold business move in Kenya’s growing creative economy. The film, a romantic heist comedy, follows two ex-lovers who plan to rob gate collections at a Christmas event but end up confronting old wounds and new truths instead.
Wangari wrote and produced the film herself, after expanding the world of her 2024 short 1992 and its stage adaptation. “We’re building a 1992 universe — a collection of stories that reflect who we were and who we’re becoming,” she says. “Kenya has a rich cultural memory. It’s time to show it on screen.”
Her company, Blackwell Films, is quickly emerging as one of the few independent production houses owned and led by a Kenyan woman. Beyond filmmaking, Wangari is intent on building a sustainable ecosystem for creative talent — from writers and actors to production crews.
Director Victor Gatonye (40 Sticks) describes the film as a “character-driven heist dramedy that mirrors the state of survival in a difficult economy.” That’s precisely the intersection where Wangari’s storytelling thrives — using humor and love to highlight real-world struggles.
By anchoring the film in the early ‘90s, Wangari taps into a wave of nostalgia that appeals to Kenyan millennials and Gen X audiences, while positioning her work for global audiences seeking authentic African stories.
Cards on the Table joins Kenya’s emerging holiday film lineup alongside A Familiar Christmas and A Merry X-Mess, showing that local storytelling has both artistic and commercial potential.
Wangari’s strategic approach — combining nostalgia, romance, and local cultural identity — positions her as one of the few Kenyan creatives actively expanding storytelling into franchises. Her long-term vision? To grow the 1992 universe into multiple interconnected stories that explore Kenya’s history and heart through film, stage, and streaming.
In an industry where funding and visibility remain uphill battles, Wangari’s success is a testament to what’s possible when art meets vision. Cards on the Table: A Christmas Movie isn’t just a film — it’s a statement: Kenyan stories belong at the global table.
