•The two-day festival will take place from 30th June to 1st July 2023 with BBC Studios
Natural History Unit as Headline Sponsor.
•It will spotlight the continent’s thriving, creative and unique stories, and
celebrate the emergence of Kenya as an internationally significant global film hub
Image: JEREMY GOSS
Kenya's stunning landscape will later this month be celebrated globally after four organisations partnered to host the first-ever African Wildscreen Festival in Nairobi.
Billed as Wildscreen’s first-ever African festival, the event takes place at Alliance Française, Nairobi on June 30 – July 1 with BBC Studios Natural History Unit as headline sponsor.
The festival is a result of a collaborative partnership between Wildscreen, BBC Studios Natural History Unit, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Film Commission, WildlifeDirect and the African Wildlife Foundation.
As one of the most actively filmed parts of the natural world, the international collaboration between not-for-profit conservation organisations and wildlife filmmaking industry partners will spotlight the continent’s thriving, creative and unique stories.
KWS acting Director General Dr Erustus Kanga said they stand at the threshold of a shared journey, united in commitment to protect and preserve the magnificent Kenya parks and the planet as a whole.
“Through our partnership with Wildscreen, we will harness the power of storytelling, film, and innovation to inspire global communities and drive lasting positive change in environmental conservation,” Kanga said.
Kanga said the festival will help raise voices, tell compelling stories, and mobilise others to join in the vital mission of conserving wildlife for posterity.
“With dedication, collaboration, and a steadfast belief in our ability to overcome challenges, we will ensure a sustainable and thriving future for wildlife and humanity alike," he said.
The festival will also celebrate the emergence of Kenya as an internationally significant global film hub whilst featuring leading native storytellers and filmmakers, providing networking, commissioning and career opportunities.
It is the first time that all these organisations have worked together, creating a unique collaboration with an intended collective impact.
Nairobi is the first from the Wildscreen Festival 2022 Global Hubs programme to progress and evolves in hosting its own event, which mirrors the ambition and vision of the partners.
The festival will be hosted by Jahawi Bertolli, an award-winning Kenyan filmmaker, National Geographic Explorer and iLCP Associate Fellow, who will bring his experience of growing up in Kenya and his passion for natural world storytelling.
In a headline interview, Kartiki Gonsalves, the first ever Indian film director to win an Academy Award for her debut short documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’, will speak with Dr Paula Kahumbu, CEO of WildlifeDirect and Presenter of the National Geographic series ‘The Secrets of the Elephants’.
Kahumbu said Kenya is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, wildlife and iconic destinations which offer a wealth of opportunities for filmmakers.
“The Wildscreen Festival is a Launchpad for accelerating the wildlife filmmaking industry in Africa which will positively impact our economies and nature conservation,” she said.
Kenya Film Commission CEO Timothy Owase thanked the festival organisers for recognising Africa's contribution to the practice of wildlife filmmaking.
Owase said the continent, and Kenya specifically, has over the years provided producers with picturesque locations teaming with unique wildlife.
“We look forward to engaging further to ensure the growth of the sector."
Wildscreen CEO Lucie Muir said the festival provides an exciting venture that is borne out of true collaboration to showcase groundbreaking stories and storytellers from across the continent.
“The talent pool is rich and we hope to help strengthen Kenya’s already high standing as the leading wildlife filming destination in Africa. The opportunities for our industry are unreal to unlock careers as well as creativity and collectively support Africa’s wildlife storytelling economy.”
Head of BBC Studios Natural History Unit Jonny Keeling said they are incredibly excited to be the headline sponsor of Wildscreen Nairobi which will celebrate and recognise the hugely significant role of African storytellers in the world of wildlife filmmaking.
The Nairobi event will host a headline session, Wild Pitch, supported by National Geographic.
The session will see six emerging or established filmmakers born or living in Africa selected to pitch their film idea to a panel of international commissioners and have the chance to win a cash prize to help fund their creation.
The expert panel will include Janet Han Vissering, Sr. Vice President, Program Development and Production at National Geographic and Head of BBC Studios Natural History Unit, Jonny Keeling.
In addition, the festival will announce a bursary programme, supporting two emerging Kenyan-based filmmakers.
The Festival programme is being curated with the support of a festival advisory board, which includes: Kahumbu, Michael Masheti, production and liaison officer, Kenya Film Commission; Nashipae Orumoy, director strategic communications, African Wildlife Foundation; Caroline Cox, production executive, BBC Studios Natural History Unit, among others.