At the 14th Kalasha International Film & TV Awards, Insignia Productions, co-led by Philippe Bresson and Grace Kahaki, emerged as the evening’s standout, departing with KES 2.5 million after sweeping the premier television categories.
Their crime drama Kash Money, directed by Grace Kahaki and Philippe Bresson, dominated the TV awards, taking home Best TV Drama, Best Director, Best Lead Actor (John Sibi Okumu as Joe), Best Supporting Actor (Lenana Karina as Njagi), and Best Supporting Actress (Amara Tari as Cate Njenga).
Accepting the honours, Kahaki paid tribute to her production crew and partners, calling the project “a labour of love” and thanking collaborators including Netflix and Okada Media for their support. Bresson used the platform to highlight a persistent industry challenge: piracy. He urged government intervention, noting that unauthorised distribution is undermining revenues and limiting investment from international platforms such as Netflix and Showmax. “Kenyans value quality content and will pay for it, but widespread piracy is preventing sustainable growth,” she said.
While celebrating the win, Bresson looked back on his journey and issued an appeal for the industry’s future. “The first time I stood on this stage was in 2009 for a show called Changing Times,” he shared. “Seventeen years later, we continue making films simply because we love the craft. We’ve partnered with Netflix, Showmax, and leading TV stations, yet piracy remains our greatest obstacle.”
He added, “So many of the artists nominated here tonight have had their work stolen and uploaded to unauthorised platforms. Kenyans truly appreciate good content and are ready to pay for it, but piracy gets in the way. That’s why global streamers like Netflix and Showmax hesitate to invest more they aren’t seeing the subscription numbers they need. These are the real struggles we face every day.”
The Kalasha recognition cements Insignia Productions’ rising profile in Kenyan television and underscores the company’s commitment to producing bold, locally rooted stories for wider audiences.
