The Kenya Film and Classification Board (KFCB) has stepped up sensitization initiatives in the creative industry to safeguard children from harmful audio-visual contents.
KFCB in partnership with the Sports, Arts, and Social Development Fund (SASDF) through the Creatives in Arts and Film Literacy (CAFIL) program aims to empower Creatives in Arts and Film to create content that upholds Kenya’s cultural values and protect children from inappropriate audio-visual contents.
The literacy program has been rolled out in Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Embu and aligns with the Fifth Pillar of (BETA), the Talanta Hela Initiative, and Vision 2030.
“By implementing this program and supporting initiatives that are geared towards talent nurturing and monetization, KFCB hopes to contribute to a thriving creative economy that supports the monetization of talent for job opportunities and socio-economic development,” said KFCB Ag. CEO CPA Paskal Opiyo during a CAFIL stakeholder’s engagement forum at the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM).
He reiterated the government’s commitment to provide a conducive environment for film creation.
KFCB has produced a handbook on regulations of filmmaking in the country which the Ag. CEO said has become a one-stop shop where practitioners will get all the information to operate in the film industry.
The handbook has relevant information about importation and permits for drones from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, and filming in the parks and forests from the Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest Service respectively.
“The government intends to ensure the works of content creators are as smooth as possible. Content creators will no longer have to walk to many offices, you simply need to refer to the handbook and you’ll have the contacts of the people that you need to talk to, they will support you,” he said.
The Ag. CEO informed the creators that the licensing for filmmaking is solely from KFCB through the board website and can be assisted in regional offices in Kisumu, Kakamega, Nakuru, Eldoret, Garissa, Embu and Nairobi.
“Other licenses that you may get from somewhere are not for filming, those are licenses relating to the activities you’re operating as a business,” he stated.
KFCB is undertaking self-classification in the wake of the increased use of social media. Content creators and filmmakers are trained to understand KFCB ratings to self-regulate.
“The space is too wide and the laws and regulations are trying to catch up on the pace of social media,” said the Ag. CEO.
Technical University of Mombasa Vice Chancellor Prof Laila Abubakar, said the CAFIL program aligns with their mission of advancing knowledge through practical application where students are nurtured to become creative and come up with better content.
“At the end of the day, they will be able to become job creators and not job seekers. Today’s event is a very good opportunity because we want to link our students with the industry and the regulators,” said Prof. Abubakar.
The handbook, she noted will help students pursuing communication studies on how to self-regulate when creating content.
Content creators lauded KFCB for the eye-opening engagement as it will help them protect children while creating content on social media.
“During holidays children are prone to stay up late watching YouTube on TV. The guidelines will help us on what they are going to watch because now the internet is available everywhere,” said Laureen Ndosanjo, an Actress.
Waridi Rehema an upcoming YouTuber and a Voice over Artist noted that the program is essential because most programs are whitewash.
“Being an African and in an African setting, we have our cultural norms and our values. It will help me in my content creation to embody that. It is going to also help me understand regulatory rights and intellectual properties,” said Rehema.
By Sadik Hassan
