• Filmmakers find the Coastal environment camera-friendly and full of unique sites
Image: COURTESY
Coast region is soon going to become a major international film production hub, following successful initiatives geared at promoting the industry.
Already, the sector has recorded a positive response after a Sh2 billion movie, 'Tolo Tolo', was shot by Italian international moviemakers, who not only filmed in Malindi but also tapped into local talents.
The film industry, it is believed, shall be an additional tourism product and talent breeding industry.
The Kenya Film Classification Board has attributed the budding industry to the unique scenes in the Coast region.
Boniventure Kioko, the KFCB Coast regional manager, says filmmakers find the Coastal environment camera-friendly.
In an interview with the Star, he said the region has white sand in areas like Diani and Malindi, which are convenient for filming.
“The geographical location and tropical areas are well-placed for filming, and Coast is like South Africa or any other country with a coastline," he says.
Kioko says Coast is also peaceful and offers a good environment for filming. “Our legal framework is accommodative also to such activities," he says.
He says the new form of tourism, whereby filmmakers come with ideas of film creation, is well tied with KFCB’s Cinema Mashinani concept.
“The concept was established to use the local talent by engaging them in content creation, and in so doing they are financially supported,” he says.
The KFCB regional manager says those who take part in content creation are paid, including those who play minor roles and provide some facilities and services.
He cited the young boy Nassor Said, 11, who was the supporting actor in the Italian movie, and is moving to Morocco, then from there head to Italy.
“If his parents had never boarded a plane, it’s the first opportunity they will have to fly in an aeroplane through the talent of that young boy. That talent is now being nurtured from grassroots. I think that’s a good cause worth supporting,” he says.
FILM SCHOOL
On the idea of a film school, Kioko says it is at conceptualisation stage, as they are waiting for filmmakers to provide them with the details of what they want so as to see how to offer partnership.
Currently, he says, they have one talent centre at Kasarani Nairobi called Film School, where talented Kenyans get some basic training regarding film.
He says the first group graduated just the other day in an event officiated by Information CS Joe Mucheru.
“Those youths are doing well. They have even been accepted by various film companies and also some media houses, where they are going to get technical exposure,” he said.
He said the Kenya National Polytechnic has also started such an initiative for the talent centre, so they can accommodate those with various talents to earn income, pass messages and develop the economy of the country.
Kioko says the social pillar is one of the presidential Big Four agenda, and that is why the KFCB is supporting drama festivals as the main sponsor, working closely with the President through Youth Programmes director Walter Nyambane.
He says film licence is only a Sh1,000 per day. “Those who find the film expensive are those who do not want to follow the law. If you want to come and establish a film in Kenya, you must get a point man, a local film agent in Kenya who will request for special pass at the airport, immigration and KRA, they get you facilitated through your filming with ease,” he says.
Kioko says those who follow the right channels enjoy those benefits, but those who use tricks end up in trouble when they come on the ground and find it expensive.