Kenyan Romantic Feature Film "cards on the Table: Premiering on November 29th

Blackwell Films is pleased to announce the world premiere of the highly anticipated Kenyan feature film, "Cards on the Table: A Christmas Movie." This character-driven romantic dramedy, set against the vibrant backdrop of 1992 Nairobi, will debut on November 29th, 2025, at Century Cinemax, Garden City Mall, Nairobi, with a simultaneous global online release. Cards on the Table follows Jackso (Nyakundi Isaboke) and Beth (Shirleen Wangari), a desperate ex-couple facing a tough economy who team up to rob the gate collections at the largest Christmas Eve bash in Nairobi. Their plan to secure much-needed money quickly implodes when their deep-seated, unresolved relationship issues erupt into a public argument. This high-decibel clash attracts the attention of the police, landing them in custody as ‘state guests’ under the relentless scrutiny of Inspector Kip. The film's logline encapsulates the chaos: "An ex-couple team up to rob the gate collections at a Christmas event in 1992 Nairobi, but their layers of unresolved issues land them in police custody." The film is helmed by seasoned Kenyan creative director and filmmaker Victor Gatonye, best known for the Netflix feature 40 Sticks, the Kina TV Series, and his work as a writer on the award-winning film The Dog. Director Victor Gatonye’s Statement: “I see Cards on the Table, Christmas Movie as a character-driven heist dramedy that looks into our lives of survival in a challenging economy. In its core, the film isn’t just about two desperate ex-lovers trying to pull off a petty robbery—there is something deeper, the state of their lives. A possible reflection of the current state of affairs.” Shirleen Wangari (known for Tahidi High, MTV Shuga 2), also stars in the film as Beth, and marks her debut as a Producer for an Independent Feature Film. Producer Shirleen Wangari’s Statement: “I’m shooting for an entertaining movie. What the audience takes from it is up to them.” Cards on the Table features a talented cast of award-winning Kenyan actors: Nyakundi Isaboke (Jackso): Award-winning Actor and Director, known for Click Click Bang (Netflix). Shirleen Wangari (Beth): Award-winning Kenyan Actress and Producer. Murunyu Duncan (Ndocha): Award-winning Actor who clinched multiple Best Actor awards in Kenya in 2024 for Boda Love. Ken Mufasa Kibet (Inspector Kip): Award-winning Kenyan Poet and a leading male in the TV show Lulu. The film explores the universal theme of Communication through the lens of a thrilling, high-stakes Christmas heist. Premiere & Tickets Cards on the Table: A Christmas Movie will premiere on Saturday, November 29th, 2025. Tickets for the premiere are available for purchase here: https://gigs.madfun.com/event/achristmasmoviepremiere