The MPI Original and BET Original film Kemba took home the Audience Choice Award for Best Film at the St. Louis International Film Festival. The screening in St. Louis, Missouri, earlier this month was preceded by a red carpet event where Kemba’s lead actress Nesta Cooper joined director Kelley Kali, producer Lana Link, the subject of the film and executive producer Kemba Smith, and Kemba’s parents Gus and Odessa Smith.

The screening featured an engaging Q&A where audiences asked questions about the filmmaking process and Kemba’s journey. Many in the audience expressed how deeply the film had touched them and asked how they can be activated to spread the film in their communities. 

Kemba began its festival run in the beginning of November with the world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. The screening was quickly followed by two sold out screenings at Chicago’s Black Harvest Film Festival, a packed screening at the St. Louis International Film Festival, and the international premiere at the Rome Independent Film Festival. 

Additional screenings will be added over the coming months. Make sure to visit KembaMovie.com to sign up to receive updates.