Ugandan filmmaker wins international conservation documentary award
Benaiah secured first place with Musambwa, a documentary project that explores the relationship between spirituality, fear and conservation through the experiences of two Ugandan elders.
Jonathan Benaiah (5th left) took the first place among the six finalists for a documentary named Musambwa who details the traditional stories on one of Uganda's islands. (Courtesy photos)
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Ugandan conservation storyteller and filmmaker Jonathan Benaiah has won the top prize at the WildPitch Kenya 2026 awards, one of Africa’s leading pitching competitions for wildlife and natural history filmmakers.
The awards ceremony was held on June 15, 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya.
Benaiah secured first place with Musambwa, a documentary project that explores the relationship between spirituality, fear and conservation through the experiences of two Ugandan elders.
The project was selected from six finalists drawn from across Africa before emerging as the overall winner.
As part of the award, Benaiah received $2,500 (about sh9 million) in development funding to support further research and production of the documentary.
Speaking after the win, Benaiah described the recognition as both humbling and encouraging, saying it reflects growing international interest in African stories that explore the intersection of conservation, culture and indigenous knowledge.
The two-day festival brought together filmmakers, broadcasters, conservationists, and industry leaders from across Africa and beyond.
"When I first heard about this small sacred island on Lake Victoria, I never imagined that one day, I'd be standing on stage sharing its story with an audience of broadcasters, conservationists, industry leaders and fellow talented filmmakers on the planet," Benaiah expressed.
"Stories of this nature remind us of our connection to tradition and the natural world. Stories about how people choose to protect the natural world when no one is watching and when the cameras are away," he added.
Participants attended special screenings, including National Geographic’s LION, which is due for release later this year, and Cheetahs Up Close, which has received widespread acclaim since its release earlier this year.
Commissioners, producers and decision-makers from organisations including the BBC Natural History Unit, Wildstar Films and other leading production companies also attended the festival.
Wildscreen is a wildlife conservation charity based in Bristol, England. Founded in 1987, it has become one of the world’s leading organisations promoting the power of storytelling to connect people with nature. The organisation builds on a mission launched in 1982 to celebrate and promote excellence in natural history filmmaking and television.