How to Build a Library

How to Build a Library
Directed by
Produced by
  • Maia Lekow
  • Christopher King
Cinematography
  • Christopher King
  • Wambui Muigai
  • Emma Nzicka
  • Ronald Ronics
  • Nyasha Kadandara
  • Timothy Mwaura
  • Michael Onyiego
  • Steve Ruiyi
Edited byRicardo Acosta
Music by
  • Maia Lekow
  • Katya Mihailova
  • Daniel Hoffknecht
Production
companies
Release date
  • January 26, 2025 (2025-01-26) (Sundance)
Running time
101 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • Kenya
Languages
  • English
  • Swahili

How to Build a Library is a 2025 Kenyan-American documentary film, directed and produced by Maia Lekow and Christopher King. It follows Shiro Koinange and Angela Wachuka, as they restore McMillan Memorial Library, Nairobi.

It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2025.

Premise

Kenyan publisher Angela Wachuka and writer Shiro (Wanjiku) Koinange quit their jobs to start a non-profit organisation named "Book Bunk" and, as their third project, to restore the famous, neo-classical McMillan Memorial Library, Nairobi.[1] Along the way, they navigate local politics and confront Kenya's colonial past.[2]

Production

Angela Wachuka asked Maia Lekow and Christopher King to document as she and Shiro Koinange attempt to restore McMillan Memorial Library, Nairobi, with the footage to be posted on their website.[3] Instead, Lekow and King decided to make a documentary following the restoration process, and using it as a vehicle to tell a larger story about Kenya.[4][5][6] Production took place over the course of eight years, with Lekow and King self-funding.[7][8] Geralyn White Dreyfous boarded the project as an executive producer, bringing on impact investors.[9]

Roger Ross Williams served as an executive producer.[10] The project received additional support from Catapult Film Fund,[11] Abigail Disney/Fork Films,[12] Chicken & Egg Films,[13] and Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund.[14]

Release

It had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2025.[15] It was also screened at the True/False Film Festival on February 27, 2025.[16][17] On May 9, 2025, the film will have its German premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival Munich in the section Reframing History.[18]

References

  1. ^ Kingori, Frida (November 20, 2021). "How Two Women Caught Uhuru's Attention With Library Work". kenyans.co.ke. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  2. ^ "How to Build a Library". Circle & Square Productions. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  3. ^ MacNab, Geoffrey (January 26, 2025). "Sundance World Cinema Comp: How to Build a Library". Business Doc Europe. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  4. ^ Tingley, Anna (January 26, 2025). "Maia Lekow and Christopher King on Sundance Doc 'How to Build a Library' and How the Story of Saving One Nairobi Library 'Can Be the Blueprint' for All of Africa — and the World". Variety. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  5. ^ Mullen, Pat (January 27, 2025). "How to Build a Library Starts a New Chapter for Public Spaces in Kenya". POV. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  6. ^ Adhis, Paula (January 24, 2025). "Nairobi Filmmakers Christopher King and Maia Lekow Premiere Documentary at Sundance". OkayAfrica. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  7. ^ Phan, Sandy (January 28, 2025). ""How to Build a Library" Transforms a Community in Kenya". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  8. ^ Staff, Filmmaker (January 28, 2025). ""Capturing a Kenyan Point of View as a Central Theme": DP Christopher King on How to Build a Library". Filmmaker. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  9. ^ Mitchell, Pat (February 6, 2025). "Documentary Films 'Seeds' and 'How to Build a Library' Debut at Sundance—Just in Time for Black History Month". Ms. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  10. ^ "How to Build a Library". One Story Up. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  11. ^ "How to Build a Library". Catapult Film Fund. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  12. ^ "How to Build a Library". Fork Films. November 22, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  13. ^ "How to Build a Library". Chicken & Egg Films. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  14. ^ "February 2025: Alumni Success Stories". Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. February 4, 2025. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  15. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 11, 2024). "Sundance 2025: JLo, Sly Stone, Putin, Ayo Edebiri, André Holland, & Ex-NZ PM Jacinda Ardern Films Among Park City Festival Offerings". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  16. ^ Morfoot, Addie (February 5, 2025). "True/False Film Fest Unveils 2025 Lineup Including Eight Sundance Docus (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  17. ^ "How to Build a Library". True/False Film Festival. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  18. ^ "How to Build a Library". www.dokfest-muenchen.de. Retrieved May 4, 2025.

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