Yellow Fever, a short animated film by Kenyan filmmaker Ng'endo Mukii, won the Silver Hugo award for Best Animated Short at the Chicago International Film Festival. 

"I have been following The Chicago International Film Festival for over five years. It is one of the most prestigious festivals in the US, and when I received news that Yellow Fever had been accepted into the festival, I really could not believe it! I travelled to Chicago, just hoping to make some good connections and meet interesting people,” says Mukii.

She continued: “I heard Penelope Bartlett, the festival programmer, mention Yellow Fever. I looked up and she was talking towards me from the podium, and I realised I had won the Silver Hugo for Best Animated Short. It was not a very graceful moment, because my jaw dropped and I stayed that way, walking to accept my prize with my mouth still open! I was completely stunned."

Yellow Fever presents themes, ideologies and identities involving skin and race, and examines how these may transform over a period of time. Mukii remarks: “In my film, I focus on African women's self-image, through memories and interviews; using mixed media to describe our almost schizophrenic pursuit of globalised beauty." 

Mukii has a portfolio which includes advertising campaigns, music videos, children's animated stories and experimental work however, Yellow Fever has awarded the animator, editor and director a standing of global recognition.