Kalasha Writers' Hub- Kenya Film Commission graduate first cohort of film scriptwriters
The Kenya Film Commission has today 4th June 2021 graduated the first cohort of the Kalasha Writers’ Hub, a programme designed to power the storytelling capability of the Kenyan film industry.
The event was graced by Col. [Rtd] Cyrus Oguna – the Government Spokesperson, Mr. Timothy Owase – CEO, Kenya Film Commission and Mr. Joseph Kurgat – Uasin Gishu County CEC, Education, Youth Sports and Youth.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Mr. Timothy Owase noted, “Kenya Film Commission undertakes capacity building programmes to address industry skill gaps and advance development of skills that meet current industry needs. With this comes the inaugural edition of the Kalasha Writers Hub Film Residency Programme that seeks to strengthen the storytelling capabilities of our filmmakers.
After a rigorous selection of Film and TV Scriptwriters across the country, the Commission narrowed down to 20 Scriptwriters from various Counties across the Regional Economic Blocs.”
The 20 Scriptwriters have undergone an intense four – week training based in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, by two notable Scriptwriters Ms. Mona Ombogo and Mr. Paul Ekuru. This has culminated in 20 individual scripts (10 for film and 10 for TV) as well as 3 group scripts (2 for film and 1 for TV).
Making his remarks on behalf of H.E Jackson Mandago – Governor for Uasin Gishu County at the Kalasha Writers’ Hub, Mr. Joseph Kurgat – CEC, Education, Youth, Sports & Culture has committed to allocate funds to support the creatives in this.
“I am pleased by the presentations I have seen here today at the Kalasha Writers’ Hub. This will indeed be a great contribution to the realization of the local content quota that has been set out by the Communication Authority of Kenya,” said Ms. Jemima, Communications Authority of Kenya.
“I have been inspired by the stories pitched here today and I can’t wait to see the stories on screen. This is a sure way to replace the foreign content on our screen,” said Ms. Sharon Chahale from Kenya Copyright Board.
Evans Muga from Safaricom PLC invited the trainees to utilize the recently launched Baze Platform to monetize their content.
Making his remarks at the same event, Mr. Timothy Owase – CEO, Kenya Film Commission notes that, “As the Government agency mandated to develop the film industry in the country, we remain committed to expanding the opportunities for creatives in the country, thus ensuring we realize significant growth in the industry.
We’ve also rolled out an annual programme dubbed Film Empowerment Programme which aims at financing film production in the country. I’m glad to announce that several film projects have been funded to a tune of over fifty million Kenyan shillings since the launch in April 2020.
This is now an annual programme that powers storytelling in the country and I encourage the scriptwriters here to submit their applications for the upcoming third cycle which will be announced soon.
I equally welcome more corporates to partner with us in empowering the filmmakers in the country thus ensuring we meaningfully transform the lives of our youth and realize the Big Four Agenda of the Kenyan Government.”
Delivering the speech on behalf of Ms. Esther Koimett, Col. (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna said, “Kenyans want to see Kenyan content. I therefore challenge the trainees here to showcase our films to satisfy the local content quota set out by the government.
No development can be achieved without the development of the youth and that is why the government has put in place Kalasha Writers’ Hub which presents a unique opportunity for preservation of our culture.”
We congratulate the trainees for the amazing effort put in learning new skills and knowledge in script development and look forward to seeing these stories transition from scripts to screen.
