Bravo to Subira…yet again! The short film written and directed By Ravneet "Sippy" Chadha won two awards at the recently concluded Amiens International Film Festival (Nov 7th to 14th 2008).

The special mention Jury's award in the short film category and The Cinecourts Prize went to the Kenyan film. The second award comes with the rights to buy the film for distribution on the TV channel called Cinecinema in France.

The jury comprised of Maurice Failevic, President (director, France), Marie Vernalde (actor, France), Arcelia Ramirez (actor, Mexico), Ray Lema (musician, R.D. Congo), Mohamed Bensalah (director, Algeria).

Ravneet Chadha was present at the screening of the film in Amiens, a town 150 kms away from Paris and was answering some questions after the screening.

Subira has been screened at seventeen film festivals worldwide including Osian film Festival in New Delhi, India, Tongues on fire, Uk , Cannes film festival, France. Tehran Children’s Festival, Asia and Palm Springs in L.A.

According to recent reports the European Union (E.U) have provided C.N.N with 1.5 Billion to promote Tourism in Kenya and while this is a generous contribution by the E.U it does represent a case of funding which, being directed by the donors, may not have maximum results.

Although C.N.N operates a world class television network with global distribution it does not reach the targeted market of potential tourists. For example, the viewing public of C.N.N in Britain is limited; most residents of that country prefer their own television networks for News and Entertainment. This situation is magnified in mainland Europe considering the language difference and the fact that C.N.N only broadcast in English.

In short, it would have been far more effective and cost efficient to film “Promos” for Kenya with a V.O in (say) four main European languages and distribute these to some of the major television networks on that continent for broadcasting. This successful marketing strategy is practiced by other countries and is not unknown to the Kenya Tourist Board (K.T.B) or to local Agents wishing to target specific markets on an international scale.

It is worth mentioning here that the Australian Tourist Board (A.T.B) has assisted in funding a Feature Film with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in the leading roles. The film, entitled “Australia” is aimed at exploiting that countries attractions with the objective of creating another “Crocodile Dundee” positive impact on their Tourism and if the film is as successful in Theatre release as it promises to be, the A.T.B will earn far more from their share in distribution than they invested before they start counting the resulting increase to their tourist numbers and the enhanced employment this will mean to their tax paying Tourist Industry.

While the foregoing is not in any way intended as a criticism of the E.U Funders, it may provide grounds for future consideration in the disbursement of funds.

"Disbarred due to a drink problem, Dr McCurtney (Simon J Smithers) thinks life can't get worse, till he is docnapped by the Kenyan mob. The mob Boss (Joseph Kinuthia) has an embarrassing personal problem and with time, the boss and his doc, reach a beneficial agreement."

The HILARIOUS Kenyan Comedy 'MOB DOC'
NOW ON DVD
ONLY FOR 60 KSH SPECIAL OFFER!!!
IN ALL NAKUMATTS, MEDIA STORES
AND MANY DVD SHOPS!

GET YOUR COPY NOW!

This is to inform you that ArtMatters.Info (www.artmatters.info) based in Nairobi (Kenya), is a website that you can use in reaching the whole of Africa:

ArtMatters.Info flaunts creativity and lifestyle in Africa, right from Cape Agulhas (South Africa) to Caluula (Somalia), and from Dakar (Senegal) to Tangier (Morocco) and Bizerte (Tunisia), and all the other places in between, including Madagascar, Seychelles, Reunion and Mayotte.

Over the past seven years, ArtMatters.Info has striven to provide reliable, well researched and journalistically-written articles to all kinds of seekers and users of information ranging from (but not limited to) painters, musicians, dancers, filmmakers, fashion designers, thespians, travellers, storytellers, writers, students, researchers, scholars, teachers, development partners (aka donors!), and policymakers (governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations) all over the world.

ArtMatters.Info has now been re-designed and expanded to cover sports, education, religion, business, politics, children and youth. Globally.

So, won't you log on and make some amazing discoveries, send in your press releases, comment on articles and participate in our polls? You can also share the content via facebook, yahoo messenger, search the site and email content to your loved ones.

Please visit ArtMatters.Info now and send us feedback.