Film genre to lighten drama fete
Students from the Nairobi Institute of Business Studies rehearse for their play “Prostitution”. It will be performed during the 56th edition of the Kenya Schools and Colleges National Drama Festival, which starts on April 7. PHOTO | ANTHONY NJAGI |
What you need to know:
- Culture Ministry to use festival to identify students to be admitted to school.
- Northeastern and Nyanza regions have the fewest entries.
The film genre in the National Drama Festival, which starts on April 7, has grown since 2012 when the Education ministry introduced it.
Some schools have taken it up with so much zeal that the Kalasha Academy 2014 gave a thumbs up to the 10 entries presented.
For the first time, the films will be screened in institutions where participants in the national festival will be staying.
There is also a plan by the festival executive committee to screen the films for the public in Nakuru Town.
The festival, which is sponsored by Mount Kenya University, ends on April 15 with a Gala Day at Melvin Jones and Lohana Halls.
At the primary level, Elimu Academy from Kisii, which has won the top award for three years, will feature.
Also in contention are Nairobi, Westlands, Ng’iya Girls Boarding, Kayole One, Mulwanda, St Eugene’s and Menyenya SDA, among many.
The secondary schools category has seen exceptional talent in story concept and production techniques.
Top schools in the screen category have been Chogoria Girls, Rwathia Girls, Kangubiri Girls, OLM Mugoiri Girls, State House Girls and others.
Surprise productions of broadcast quality in story design and production include Makueni Girls, Sengani Girls, Siakago Girls, Olpusimoru, Asumbi Girls and Ole Kasasi.
CENTRE STAGE
The colleges category has been dominated by the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication, Rift Valley Institute of Technology, Embu College, Asumbi and Migori TTCs.
In the universities category USIU, the University of Nairobi, Mount Kenya, Moi and Masinde Muliro have stamped their authority with excellent screenplays.
The Early Childhood Development Education category has been dominated by city schools, led by Our Lady of Mercy Shauri Moyo.
It is noteworthy that girls have taken centre stage in the film genre. In fact, there is a possibility that boys may be left out in the Film School commissioned by the President that will pick students based on talent.
The Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts will use the festival to identify the actors.
Also worth noting is that Nyanza and the northeastern regions have the fewest entries, meaning fewer students from there will be selected.
