Mixed fortunes for Kenya's film industry

The cast and crew of Nairobi Half Life celebrate after winning in the Best Feature Film at the 2013 Kalasha Awards. The film took home five awards. PHOTO/CHARLES kAMAU/FILE

What you need to know:

  • This year House of Lungula received the most nominations with the film appearing in 10 different categories. The film’s producer Alex Konstantaras, who has been in the country’s film industry since its earlier days noted that slow growth was being experienced in the industry.
  • Langiri who has received two nominations this year recommends an establishment of an Acting School in the country that will make acting a viable career.
  • King encouraged the government to support the industry more by commissioning for projects that can be aired at the public broadcaster.

This year's Kalasha Awards, promises to be bigger and better. With an increase in the number of entries vying for the top awards the organisers Kenya Film Commission (KFC) are confident that the film industry in Kenya is on the right track.

The gala event which is in its fifth edition seeks to recognise stakeholders in the film industry while encouraging them to create local content. The awards also a networking opportunity for actors, directors and producers in fim and television business.

This year House of Lungula received the most nominations with the film appearing in 10 different categories. The film’s producer Alex Konstantaras told Nation.co.ke on Thursday that he felt encouraged by the recognition given to his film.

“It’s a good thing our nominations spread out to the different aspects in film and this is quite encouraging and enough on its own even if we don’t win on Friday,” he said.

Alex who has been in the country’s film industry since its hey days noted that slow growth was being experienced in the industry.

“The industry is growing though ‘painfully slowly’ and this is because only a few producers are trying to make a difference,” he added.

LONG WAY TO GO

Gerald Langiri, who has featured in both House of Lungula and “Stay” lauded the recognition the awards bring with them to the actors.

“It is a prestigious event to give recognition to actors but KFC needs to do more than just award them with trophies,” he added.

Langiri who has received two nominations this year recommends an establishment of an Acting School in the country that will make acting a viable career.

“KFC can even come up with grants to the producers’ whose films get awarded to sponsor them in their next projects and encourage creation of more content,” said Langiri.

Another actor who has received two nominations, Peter King lauded KFC for the efforts made so far to nurture the film industry to achieve its targeted growth.

“Thou we still have a long way the support so far from the government has been good as awareness has been created through such awards,” he added.

King encouraged the government to support the industry more by commissioning for projects that can be aired at the public broadcaster.

“So far there has been a lot of job creation by foreign entities like Mnet who have commissioned for projects, the government too needs to support this cause even as it calls for the inclusion of local content in private broadcasters,” he added.

He called for the inclusion of the actors’ guild in coming up with policies that affect the film industry like the recently drafted Film Policy.

Eston Munyi, chairman of the Kalasha Awards noted that challenges in scriptwriting and directing needed professional attention and called on film training institutions to work on strengthening the areas.

The award nominees have been categorised into 30 sections and the winners will be announced at the gala event on Friday at the National Museum of Kenya.