10M FOR DRAMA FESTIVALS

"We will use art to glorify hard work, family values, national cohesion and integration as well as respect for instituted authority - God, parents and Government."

Those remarks rang as wild fire when Kenya Film Classification Board C.E.O Dr Ezekiel Mutua gave his speech at Laico Recency Hotel during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between KFCB and the Kenya National Drama Festivals Organising Committee (MO).

The signing of the MOU makes KFCB the proud title sponsor for the 2019 Edition of the Kenya National Drama Festivals with a platinum cash sponsorship of Ksh10.8 Million and other forms of kind sponsorship that will take the total contribution of the Board to over Ksh20M by the time the finals are held mid next.

According to the CEO, the partnership seeks to identify and nurture talents through stage performances as well as to ensure that The identified talents is documented for future reference. He further stated that the board deems drama festivals as an important platform for inculcating positive social values in our youths at an early stage.

"Film and stage plays majorly mirror society and help to set the agenda for society by promoting values such as honesty, hard work, perseverance and resilience. Besides the agenda setting role, art is is a mirror of society and helps to promote development by glorifying good and shaming evil. Through art, our culture and beliefs are shaped and grown. Art therefore is a powerful tool for setting the agenda for society and can be used to deal with the social ills ailing us such as corruption, dishonesty, breakdown of our moral fabric and general lack of decency and fairness in our dealings. Art can be used to promote peace, love and unity and shame the growing culture of negative politics of ethnicity, hate and greed. Art can be used to mould  our young people into responsible adults. It can be used to pour scorn on the get- rich-quick schemes promoted by the media through misleading gambling and betting adverts as well as the culture of socialites, sponsors and sponsees that makes it cool for our young people to crave for the easy way out. Art can be used to redefine the misleading concept of success that glorifies acquisition of material possession through dubious means and short cut. Art can and should be used to portray a hard work and honesty as important values that define success in life." Mutua said

"In sporing the 2019 edition of the National Drama Festivals, KFCB seeks to have an interface with the most treasured segment of our  society, namely the young minds in our institutions of learning. The Board hopes to mould them into responsible adults who are prepared to deal with hard realities of life. The Board also hopes to identify and nurture talent. By working with the National Drama Festivals Committee, the Board hopes to document and keep track of the great talents that participate in the various activities beyond school. We do this is the full realization that many great talents who have won in various categories of these festivals in the past disappeared into the oblivion and the only memories of their stellar performance and talent is some trophy gathering dust in the school principal's office. We hope to change this narrative by creating a data bank of emerging talents and stars who can be nurtured into great creatives beyond school. We hope to create the necessary interlinkages between the National Drama Festivals and the creative industry for job creation and wealth for our youths. We will also seek to support the winners and the organizers with exposure by linking them with other institutions globally that have used drama to identify and nurture talent. By creating a structured partnership with the National Drama Festivals Organizing Committee, the Board hopes to turn these festivals into an avenue for job creation."  Added the CEO

Well for young and upcoming talents, this couldn't have come at a better time. This surely is a project worth a standing ovation and requires full support from all quarters. HEKO KFCB for this great endeavour that will surely shape the future of our country.

ZIFF2018

In the murky world of Kenyan creatives and film making, it's a Herculean task for young talented  but financially challenged film makers to produce and showcase their talents through films especially if the film makers come from the informal settlements.

According to recent report by United Nations; Human Development Index (HDI) 2017, Kenya recorded 39.1 percent unemployment rate and most of the unemployed youths come from the informal settlement.

It is this harsh reality  of life that has propelled young talented film makers from K-Youth Media to cast their net deeper into the unknown world of film making.

Meet MISFIT, a K- Youth media production that highlights the plight of a young man living with albinism in the Modern African society and just like the challenges depicted in the short poetical film, anyone involved in film making in Kenya will tell you how hard it is to produce a film especially if you don't have a dime.

Shockingly, Misfit was done on a 20 dollar budget. The director, Karanja Ng'endo and the main character, the reigning Mr. Albinism Kenya Jairus Ong'etta hooked up mysteriously and went down to Malindi and alas! MISFIT was shot. Just like that!. That speaks volumes about the potential and sacrifice that young aspiring film makers have and it came as reprieve when Kenya Film and Classification Board (KFCB) came to the rescue months later after the film was nominated for awards in the prestigious Zanzibar International Film Festivals (ZIFF) awards under the school category.

Four members of K youth Media were fully sponsored to attend the festivals in Zanzibar. Everything was carted for by the board.

"Under the leadership of Hon. DR Ezekiel Mutua, the CEO of KFCB, we the young aspiring film makers, might just have found a saviour and we are humbled that he has interest in young film makers like us. God bless KFCB." Joseph Muthee K-youth media

Mukuru news followed the unfoldings like a soap opera and true to the core, the film makers stay was pure experience to say the least.

"KFCB Corporate communications manager, Madam Nelly Muluka was vital and helpful in ensuring our stay in Zanzibar was smooth. She went out of her way to assist in every possible way, thanks a lot " Brian Obiri from K youth.

Kenya Film Classification Board sponsored 10 film makers to attend the awards and among them were students from Kenya Film school and the school's Deputy director Madam Victoria Goro literally  adopted the four film makers from k-youth media and the experience and knowledge they accumulated was exceptional.

Dr Ezekiel Mutua and his team at KFCB have given a glimpse of hope to the young film makers of this country that indeed, despite the challenges involved, there is light at the end of the tunnel and that KFCB will embrace lively positive ideas in film making. Sir, keep the door open for more film makers...