Arnold Mwanjila is an award-winning writer and director based in Nairobi, Kenya. An alumnus of Mira Nair’s Maisha Screenwriting Lab in Kenya and of Talents Durban / Berlinale Talents, he graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Film Studies and Economics.
Arnold has written and directed for various home-grown award-winning TV shows, including NJORO WA UBA and VARSHITA! on Showmax / Maisha Magic East, and is the creator, head writer and director of the sitcom WALIOBAKI.
He is the Writer & Director of three Showmax / Maisha Magic East films, AISHA, SIRI and NAKUCHEKI. AISHA was nominated in seven categories at the 2017 Kalasha Awards, winning two.
Currently streaming on Netflix, Arnold’s feature film screenwriting and directing debut, TALIYA, a dark fantasy drama about an ambitious fisherman who ensnares a mermaid-like water spirit and exploits her as a grand magical theatrical exhibit, has screened at various festivals around the world including the New Filmmakers Los Angeles festival where it bagged the Best Screenplay Award at the Best of NFMLA Awards, 2022.
Arnold has most recently written for Team Sayari, a kids magazine show for DISNEY/NATGEO, and is a Baboon Animation staff writer on various projects including FUNNY FLUX’S QUANTUM HEROES DINOSTER.
Arnold also serves as the head writer at USIKU GAMES where he contributes to the creation of fun, casual, web and mobile games including the upcoming ELECTRIC BLUE: GECKO DASH! for On The Edge. Other game clients include Johnson & Johnson, GIZ, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness Kenya (CREAWKENYA), the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), among others.
He is currently in production on an animated short film. And his next feature film, a sci-fi action adventure for kids, has been optioned and is in advance development.
A writer and director for hire, Arnold is developing many original projects across TV, film, and games.
Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie
