Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) is working on a framework to turn the winning items in the Kenya National Drama and Film Festivals (KNDFF) into commercially viable films.
KFCB CEO Dr. Ezekiel Mutua said they are working on modalities and once they are in place, they will publicize on the way forward.
“We have sold the concept of the KNDFF to Nollywood and Hollywood and discussions are underway to see how we can get the international partners to support creative arts in schools,” reiterated Mutua.
In a speech read on his behalf by senior manager at the Board Paskal Opiyo Saturday, during the 2018-2019 KNDFF awards at their offices, the CEO said they remain committed to promoting morality by identifying and nurturing talent among the youth through initiatives such as drama and film festival.
The Board, he added has collaborated with the Ministry of Education under the KNDFF secretariat as the 2018-2019 main partner in the competition.
“This collaboration is to encourage the creation of clean content that would result in the exhibition and distribution of clean content on diverse media platforms,” Dr. Mutua said.
He added that the partnership is to reach and inspire at least 25,000 students and 1,200 teachers as media content creators and consumers to produce and consume clean age-appropriate content.
“The board has participated in key KNDFF activities that included the review of the national festival’s rules and regulations and training of the adjudicators so as to achieve their set objective,” he said.
Mutua noted that during the KNDFF national festival held at Kibabii University in April this year, the Board had a screening park that attracted more than 7,000 viewers of the public through two community screening sessions.
“Many items displayed by learners in the festival included the aspect of edutainment which addresses the KFCB content classification thematic areas as well as the national and moral values,” said the CEO.
Speaking at the function, KNDFF Executive Secretary James Indimuli said the theme of the festivals was ‘moral responsibility,’ adding that awards will spur other institutions in competing in the category of clean content.
Indimuli said that next year’s festival will be held in Mombasa and the theme would not change much, noting that KFCB will remain standing with KNDFF as title sponsors and supporters.
During the function, KFCB awarded content creators from various learning institutions that responded to its clean content campaign namely MCK Kianjai Boarding Primary School, Kayole 1 Primary School, Larmudiac High School and Marsabit Girls High School.
By Charles Kirundi
