When universal basic income (UBI) comes to the Kenyan village of Kogutu, lives are foreverchanged. GiveDirectly, one of the fastest growing nonprofits of the 21st century, is sending freemoney for twelve years as part of the world’s largest UBI experiment. Filmmakers LaurenDeFilippo and Sam Soko juxtapose the story of these young economists, bankrolled by SiliconValley and convinced that they have found an infallible algorithm to end world poverty, withportraits of local Kenyans whose lives are being dramatically impacted for better and for worse.

Sam Soko is a documentary filmmaker based in Nairobi, Kenya. With his captivating approach to socio-political storytelling, he has developed content and collaborated with firebrand artists worldwide. His first feature documentary project, Softie, a story about balancing the deep love of country with the family’s needs, premiered at the 2020 Sundance film festival, winning a special jury prize for editing. Soko has gone on to receive Emmy, Peabody, and PGA nominations for his work. He is an outspoken defender of freedom of expression and has taken part in global conversations on making media matter when the world is on fire. Soko is also co-founder of LBxAfrica, a Kenyan production company that works with local and international filmmakers to bring uniquely African perspectives to global audiences.