
Set in 1990s Kenya, Call Me Queen follows an Irish journalist and a Rwandan woman who join forces to confront the AIDS crisis. Emily Atef directs this drama, which features Eliane Umuhire, Denise Gough, Dominic West and Danny Sapani in its ensemble cast.
Call Me Queen is a 2026 drama set against the AIDS crisis in 1990s Kenya. At its center are an Irish journalist working in the country and a Rwandan woman whose friendship leads them to take action together.
Directed by Emily Atef, the film brings an international cast and production team to a story shaped by journalism, public health and cooperation across cultures. It is scheduled for release on October 15, 2026.
Call Me Queen movie details
| Title | Call Me Queen |
|---|---|
| Release date | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Director | Emily Atef |
| Writers | Emily Atef, Jeannine Dominy, Josune Hahnheiser |
| Country | Germany, United Kingdom, Kenya, France |
| Languages | English, Swahili |
| Status | Released |
Story without spoilers
The story follows an Irish journalist in Kenya and a Rwandan woman who form a friendship while facing the AIDS crisis of the 1990s. Their partnership develops into a shared effort to combat the epidemic, placing their personal connection within a wider social and historical setting.
The supplied synopsis identifies the central relationship and mission without revealing how their work unfolds or where it leads. The film’s premise combines character-driven drama with a period backdrop focused on the consequences of HIV/AIDS in the region.

What to expect
Call Me Queen is categorized as a drama and is built around a friendship between two women from different backgrounds. Its setting connects an intimate relationship with the broader AIDS crisis in 1990s Kenya, while the foreign-correspondent and HIV/AIDS-related keywords point to journalism and public-health concerns as important elements of the premise.
The film is in English and Swahili, giving its international setting a multilingual dimension. Beyond its central pair, the listed characters suggest a wider ensemble involving figures such as Father Alexis, Michael, Warren, Anna and Phillipe Leduc.
Cast and creative team
Eliane Umuhire stars as Queen, the Rwandan woman at the heart of the story. Denise Gough plays Anna, while Danny Sapani appears as Father Alexis, Charlie Carrick as Michael and Dominic West as Warren. The cast also includes Laurent Lafitte as Phillipe Leduc, Michelle Tiren as Zawadi, Lwanda Jawar as Tony, Gerald Langiri as Nervous Man and Nice Githinji as Janet.
Emily Atef directs Call Me Queen and shares writing credit with Jeannine Dominy and Josune Hahnheiser.
- Eliane Umuhire as Queen
- Danny Sapani as Father Alexis
- Charlie Carrick as Michael
- Dominic West as Warren
- Denise Gough as Anna
- Laurent Lafitte as Phillipe Leduc
- Michelle Tiren as Zawadi
- Lwanda Jawar as Tony
- Gerald Langiri as Nervous Man
- Nice Githinji as Janet
Release and production context
Call Me Queen is listed as a 2026 release with a scheduled release date of October 15, 2026. It is a drama produced across Germany, the United Kingdom, Kenya and France. The production companies are Cowboy Films, Streetcar Entertainment, Ringel Film and Les Films Pelléas. The film is spoken in English and Swahili, and no runtime is supplied.
Production companies: Cowboy Films, Streetcar Entertainment, Ringel Film, Les Films Pelléas
Movies Dock view
With its 1990s Kenyan setting and focus on two women responding to the AIDS crisis, Call Me Queen places a personal friendship inside a significant public-health context. The film’s international cast, multilingual format and cross-border production reflect the story’s broad geographical scope.
Frequently asked questions
What is Call Me Queen about?
It follows an Irish journalist in Kenya and a Rwandan woman who become friends and work together to combat the AIDS crisis in the 1990s.
Who directed Call Me Queen?
Emily Atef directed the film.
Who stars in Call Me Queen?
The cast includes Eliane Umuhire, Danny Sapani, Charlie Carrick, Dominic West, Denise Gough, Laurent Lafitte, Michelle Tiren, Lwanda Jawar, Gerald Langiri and Nice Githinji.
When is Call Me Queen scheduled for release?
The film is scheduled for release on October 15, 2026.
Which languages are spoken in Call Me Queen?
The listed spoken languages are English and Swahili.















