David ‘Tosh' Gitonga

David ‘Tosh’ Gitonga

Tells us your story, Tosh. 

Tosh is a Kenyan filmmaker passionate about telling our stories to the world and building the Kenyan film industry. I studied marketing at Kenya Institute of Marketing in South C and after that my first job was on the set of Dangerous Affair as a production assistant. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Are you using your marketing skills? 

I believe I am. In some way as long as you have a job or are earning an income, you are inherently a marketer. My marketing skills taught me how to present myself and pitch my ideas. I am able to speak freely to people, pick peoples’ brains... which is essentially where I get a lot of my ideas from.

Your favourite TV show growing up? 

Tahamaki. We do not have a local detective series nowadays. I also loved Sanford and Son. The comedy was so witty and Sanford was a riot!

How was it working on ‘Nairobi Half Life’? 

It was an amazing opportunity. One that I will forever be grateful for. I worked with an amazing director that I learnt a lot from; Tom Tykwer, and with a super talented team. I have to say Nairobi Half Life was my big break not only in Kenya but worldwide. I got recognition for it and it played in cinemas worldwide. That’s when people started paying attention to Tosh Gitonga as a director. 

What exactly do you do behind the scenes? 

A lot goes into filmmaking. What you see on screen as a consumer is the result of arduous hours or brainstorming and conceptualization, plotting, writing, scouting, casting, editing. A whole lot has to happen even before the camera rolls and I am part of the entire process.

What drives you?