The government is keen on growing the film industry in the country by tapping into advanced international markets, ICT Cabinet Secretary (CS) Joe Mucheru has said.
Speaking on Monday when he inaugurated the new board of directors of the Kenya Film Commission, Mucheru said his ministry has negotiated a deal with Chinese film makers for a joint production to run alongside the co-production already underway with India.
“We have brought the Chinese Film Week after the India Film Week which happened earlier this year, these two markets alone are close to 3 billion people that want to watch our films,” said Mucheru.
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The CS said that film is an integral part of the country’s policy to preserve culture and create jobs.
Mucheru said the government expects to have over five major films shot in Kenya, adding that incentives will be put in place to attract movie producers by tapping into the experience and capacity of the media and film sectors.
“We are glad that the board has accepted to take up the challenge that they have been given to create jobs for the youth by attracting many more film producers,” said Mucheru.
The CS will use the existing 800 digital villages and 47 outdoor film centres to showcase films.
“We will soon be seeing the ‘Elephant Queen’ a film which was shot over eight years ago in the Tsavo. We hope that every Kenyan will be able to see the film and the Kenya Film Commission will ensure that we provide the facilities to enable everyone watch the film by early next year,” said Mucheru.
The new board includes Dorothy Ghettuba (chairperson), Timothy Owase (chief executive officer), Ernest Kerich, Sarah Migwi, Eunice Wangeci Macharia, Asif Karim and Gideon Ole Moses Saruni.
