Sema Stori

Sema Stori was a storytelling and filmmaker development program by Docubox, supported by Comic Relief. The program brought together 10 East African filmmakers to work collaboratively with local communities to create short documentary films addressing pressing social issues.
Through a week-long workshop, participants were introduced to the craft of short documentary filmmaking and guided by international mentors including Ruhi Hamid, Daphne Matziaraki, and Yuval Hameiri. The workshop explored story development, character selection, and narrative structure, equipping filmmakers with tools to craft compelling and impactful short films.
At the end of the workshop, each selected team received £10,000 production grants to produce short documentaries exploring four key themes: Mental Health, Early Childhood Development, Gender Justice, and the Right to Safe and Secure Shelter.
The program resulted in ten short documentary films that used storytelling to spark dialogue, raise awareness, and contribute to social change across East Africa.