DIRECTOR’S CUT
THE KENYAN FILM INDUSTRY
A SLEEPING GOLDMINE
BY SIMON MBUTHIA
“A
s the country’s film industry slows down to a snail pace for the past one year, one of the celebrated film makers bemoans the sleeping giant that if awoken, could arise with it the economy and create thousands of the so much needed jobs. Kalasha Chronicles caught up with the tough talking Victor at his office and the Kenya Film and Television Professional Association (KFTPA) chairman was not mincing words, he decries the lack of cooperation and spark that could lead to a vibrant film industry. “There are groups operating as cartels in the film industry. If someone who has not been there before comes in, they try to block him or her. They think they are getting into their space and invading their market. It is sad.” Says Victor. However, he says that there is so much space in the industry and that even if everyone involved in film production in the country joined, there would still be many more needed to fill up the remaining space! Muniafu paints a picture of Kenyan film industry with a big business promise. It is unfortunate however that small talk and blame games are at play.Victor wished that instead of bashing the Kenya Film Commission and heaping blame on them, film professionals should work hard and put the interest of their profession before the financial rewards they get from it. Granted, the Kenyan film scene has grown in leaps and bounds since Victor was bitten by the ‘film bug’ more than ten years ago. But it is yet to catch up to big brothers in the industry, namely Nigeria and South Africa. “Countries such as Nigeria and South Africa started out in small ways but they have grown rapidly and are now in the world market and could soon be at par with Hollywood as far as film making is concerned,” he said.
Victor Muniafu
So what are we doing wrong? “We need to work on the quality of our productions. We need to work on capacity building. We don’t even have quality training on film making. There are quacks out there masquerading as film prod ????????????????t????((??$$()
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