It’s Never Just About the Movies: Inside Midnight Vibez

A movie night can be about more than sitting in the dark and watching a film. At Midnight Vibez, the experience stretches through the night, bringing together movies, music, activities and people looking for something different.

For David Andove, the company’s chief executive officer, building that experience has been a journey of creativity, experimentation and learning what audiences want.

“We have grown over the years; I think it's like two to three years,” he says, reflecting on the brand’s progress. He attributes its growth partly to marketing and customers recommending the experience to others.

But for Andove, the attraction goes beyond the equipment, screens and mattresses that people might associate with an outdoor or unconventional movie night. His background in performing arts, film and production has influenced how he approaches the business.

CEO David Andove

“Somebody can steal your creativity, you know, people can steal your vision, but don't steal your vision as the way you see it,” he says.

It is a distinction he considers important in an increasingly competitive entertainment space. The visible elements can be replicated, but the thinking and preparation behind the experience are harder to reproduce.

Building an experience beyond the screen

A Midnight Vibez event can run from around 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. Keeping guests entertained through those hours requires more than choosing a film and pressing play.

Equipment must be ready, headphones charged, the space clean and well ventilated, and the activities coordinated. Even with preparation, unexpected problems can arise.

“Things are usually not easy. And you can get an emergency anytime,” Andove says.

The programme also extends beyond films. Depending on the venue and the audience, guests can experience Silent Karaoke, Anonymous Confessions, themed celebrations and other activities. Trivia and bonfire experiences are among the ideas the team has explored.

Film selection, meanwhile, involves understanding the tastes of the people who attend. The aim is to create an experience that feels social rather than simply putting a screen in front of an audience.

Venues also shape the experience. Whistling Morans, for instance, has an established community, but Andove acknowledges that reaching the venue can be a challenge for first-time guests, particularly those relying on public transport. Midnight Vibez has sometimes organised transport from Nairobi’s central business district and back.

The approach reflects a practical reality: a promising event concept must also consider the journey guests make to attend it.

Can Midnight Vibez help Kenyan films find an audience?

One of the more ambitious parts of Andove’s vision concerns Kenyan filmmaking.

Midnight Vibez has screened some local productions, although he says the response from its audience has not always met expectations. In his view, factors such as lighting, continuity, scene execution and pre-production can affect how viewers receive a film.

He also points to the financial and regulatory hurdles facing local productions. These are Andove’s observations from his experience, rather than a verdict on the entire Kenyan film industry.

For him, however, the disappointing reception of some screenings does not mean local films should be left out. Instead, it presents an opportunity to think about how filmmakers and audiences might connect more effectively.

“We are that bridge,” he says.

The ambition is to create opportunities for Kenyan producers to screen their work to audiences who might not otherwise encounter it through Midnight Vibez. Andove also imagines going a step further: bringing together community members with different skills—including writers, actors and crew—to develop a film that can then be screened to the same community.

Some producers have approached the company about screening pilot projects, although those conversations have yet to develop into substantial partnerships.

The idea is promising, but turning it into a lasting arrangement will require collaboration with filmmakers and a clearer understanding of what audiences want from local productions.

Taking the experience further

For now, Midnight Vibez continues to build its identity through themed events, including Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Christmas and Easter celebrations. Décor and activities vary according to the venue, available budget and mood of the event.

Andove’s longer-term ambitions extend beyond the current setup. He hopes to reach more Kenyan towns, including Kisumu and Nyeri, explore opportunities in other markets across East Africa, upgrade the event equipment and introduce daytime experiences.

A dedicated venue is also among the possibilities, alongside stronger working relationships with Kenyan production houses.

“Our future is big and it will be greater because we want to extend our company to different venues,” he says.

The next stage will depend on how the company balances expansion with the attention to detail that Andove sees as central to its identity. More locations and bigger events may increase its reach, but maintaining a distinctive experience will remain important.

For Midnight Vibez, the film is the starting point, not the whole story. The larger ambition is to create a space where entertainment becomes a shared experience, and, potentially, where Kenyan filmmakers can find new ways to meet their audiences.