FREE MONEY

Status: Released

WORLD PREMIERE: Toronto International Film Festival

WATCH FREE MONEY ON NETFLIX AFRICA

WATCH ON APPLE T.V UNITED KINGDOM

When universal basic income (UBI) comes to the Kenyan village of Kogutu, lives are forever changed. GiveDirectly, one of the fastest growing nonprofits of the 21st century, is sending free money for twelve years as part of the world’s largest UBI experiment. Filmmakers Lauren DeFilippo and Sam Soko juxtapose the story of these young economists, bankrolled by Silicon Valley and convinced that they have found an infallible algorithm to end world poverty, with portraits of local Kenyans whose lives are being dramatically impacted for better and for worse. UBI is at the forefront of political debate like never before, thanks to Andrew Yang’s presidential candidacy, covid stimulus packages, and trials underway around the world. This documentary is a fascinating case study of life in a village-turned-petri-dish from the perspective of those living out this revolutionary idea.

FESTIVALS

IDFA | Watch Docs Human Rights Festival | FIPADOC | Glasgow | CPH DOX | Docville  | One World Int'l Human Rights Film Festival | Millenium International Documentary Film Festival  | Academia Film Olomouc | Seattle International Film Festival | Dok.Fest Munchen | Docaviv | Mostra Ecofalante de Cinema | Sydney Film Festival | Encounters International Documentary Film Festival | Durban International Film Festival | Human Rights Film Festival Berlin

REVIEWS OF THE FILM

Global press

The Hollywood Reporter | Variety | POV Magazine | Deadline | The Film Stage  

Realscreen | B.E.T | Film Threat   IndieWire | Women and Hollywood |The Africa Report 

VPRO GIDS Netherlands | Screen Daily  | The UpComing U.K  | The Reviews Hub 

The Guardian

Kenyan press

Business Daily Review  |  The Star Review | Kenya Buzz  | Kenyan Vibe Review | Standard Media Kenya | Sinema Focus Review

Interviews with the filmmakers

Sam Soko on The Stream, Al Jazeera speaking on 'Will Universal Basic Income become mainstream?'

Lauren DeFilippo hosted on International Labor Organization's Podcast on 'The Value of Free Money'

Lauren DeFilippo and Sam Soko speak about the film to Wilfred Okiche on The Africa Report

Sam Soko featured on Sinema Focus 

Lauren DeFilippo and Sam Soko hosted on VOA Africa to document the Impact of UBI in Kogutu

Sam Soko featured on Business Daily Africa

 

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CREDITS

Directors

Lauren DeFillipo

 

Sam Soko

Cast

Jael Rael Achieng Songa

 

Emma Anyango Adhiambo

 

John Omondi

 

Larry Madowo

 

Caroline Teti

 

Andrew Yang

 

Michael Faye

Cinematography

Vanessa Carr

 

Nyasha Kadandara

 

Bo Wambui

Editing

Ryan Mullins

 

Raul Santos

 

Mila Aung-Thwin

Executive Producers

Stephen Ives

 

Bramwel Iro

 

Christopher Buck

 

Tess Cohen

Producers

Amanda Pollak

 

Jordan Fudge

 

Jeremy Allen

 

Lauren DeFilippo

 

Sam Soko

Production companies

Insignia Films

 

LBx Africa

 

Retro Report Films

 

New Slate Adventures

Sound

Edward Ahenda

 

Fiona McBain

Original Score

Eduardo Aram

International Sales Agent

Dogwoof

USA Sales Agent

Creative Artists Agency (CAA)