Kenya mulls policy to expand film sector
By Evans Maritim, March 16, 2021
Kenya is planning to put in place a national film policy that will provide a roadmap to expand the film sector, Joshua Akwara, acting CEO, Kenya Film Commission (KFC) said in Nairobi.
Joshua Akwara said that the government has set a target to increase the output of the film sector from the current 20 billion shillings (about 182 million U.S. dollars) annually to 912 million dollars by the end of 2025.
“The film policy will provide the necessary incentives for industry players so that they can help to expand the contribution of the sector to the overall economy,” Akwara said when KFC launched the Kalasha International Film and TV market 2021.
The fourth edition of the Kalasha conference will take place from May 5 to 7 and will showcase films from the East African region.
Akwara said that the policy should be in place by the end of June and establishes the Kenya film fund that will finance the promotion, development and growth of the local film industry.
Akwara noted that once Kenya establishes a vibrant film sector, it will be able to improve the portrayal of the country’s cultural and national identity.
“Our goal is to make Kenya a regional hub for film production by promoting consumption of local films in foreign markets,” he added.
Akwara observed that the policy will also provide a framework for government intervention in upgrading film industry infrastructure in order to boost the competitiveness of Kenya as a preferred destination for international film productions.