Set against the backdrop of a retro-futurist African society, Memory of Princess Mumbi tells the story of a young filmmaker’s journey to a remote village called Umata in the wake of a war that revolutionised the world and reawakened ancient kingdoms.
By Adedamola Jones Adedayo
Kenyan filmmaker Damien Hauser’s acclaimed Afrofuturist feature, Memory of Princess Mumbi (2025), has secured an English-language distribution deal with US-based independent film distributor Monument Releasing. The acquisition grants the company rights across key English-speaking territories: the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The agreement follows the film’s successful festival run last year, during which Memory of Princess Mumbi became the first Kenyan feature film to premiere in an independent parallel section of the Venice Film Festival. The film then made its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Combining mockumentary, drama and AI-generated pictures, the film has been hailed as a landmark achievement in African sci-fi filmmaking. An Afrocritik review describes the film as “a micro-budget sci-fi odyssey that dazzles with invention while simultaneously casting a wary eye at the very tools that built it.”
Set against the backdrop of a retro-futurist African society, Memory of Princess Mumbi tells the story of a young filmmaker’s journey to a remote village called Umata in the wake of a war that revolutionised the world and reawakened ancient kingdoms. In Umata, the young man, Kuve, picks interest in Mumbi, a lady who challenges him to make his film without the use of AI. Struggling at first to find his own voice and identity, he eventually comes to terms with the delicate state of the world around him.
Reacting to the film’s stylistic experimentation and ambitious storytelling, Ryan Kampe, President of Monument Releasing, said: “There is so little truly original cinema in the world at the moment, and when you have the privilege of seeing such a smart and innovative film, it feels like an obligation to support and nurture it. Damien has made a gem that audiences will fall in love with now in cinemas and for years to come as they discover it on various digital platforms.”
Concerning the deal with Monument Releasing, Hauser expressed optimism at garnering reinvigorated audience interest.
“We live in a time that often feels defined by conflict and bad news. With Memory of Princess Mumbi, I wanted to tell a story that celebrates beauty, joy, and human connection,” he said. “I’m incredibly grateful to Monument Releasing for believing in the film, and I hope audiences leave it with a renewed appreciation for the small moments that make life meaningful.”
With an acquisition agreement brokered by Ryan Kampe on behalf of Monument Releasing and Alexandre Moreau of international sales company Paradise City Sales, Memory of Princess Mumbi is expected to roll out across the selected English-speaking territories.