The film sucessfully premiered on the 12th of August at the Kenya National Theatre.
You can watch the trailer below:
BENTA (2007) Director: Mary Mugui Benta a young girl from a well to do family finds her life turned upside down following the death of her parents in a road accident; which forced her to become a househelp for a not very pleasant family.
The film KIBERA KID is still going strong and starting this month, it will be screened at various international film festivals.
KIBERA KID WORLDWIDE SCREENINGS:
*Brazilian Student Film Festival 2007 July 9- July 22 :: BRAZIL
*San Diego International Children's Film Festival, July 27- July 29 :: USA *Monterrrey International Film Festival Aug 11th- Aug 18th :: MEXICO *Nueva Mirada International Film Festival Sept. 6th- Sept 12th :: ARGENTINA *BFI 51st London Film Festival Oct. 17th - Nov. 1st :: UNITED KINGDOM *Kolkata Film Festival Nov. 11th - 17th :: INDIA
The Kenya Film Commission in collaboration with Pan African subscription TV channel, MNET Africa partnered together to send a team of ten Kenyans to Nigeria to undergo a training session facilitated by renowned producers, directors and technical personnel in Nigeria’s thriving film industry, popularly dubbed “Nollywood”.
In accordance with the Commission’s mandate to develop and promote the local film industry, “Project Nollywood” was birthed.
It’s no secret that Kenyans tend to prefer to watch what comes out of Hollywood and Europe and yet KENYA has a kaleidoscope of stories that can be translated onto the silver screen. The Commission hopes that by training our story tellers to adapt production, marketing and distribution skills, we will hopefully see a turn around in the industry. This training is the beginning of a series of capacity building programmes which the Commission will undertake as part of its pledge to the local film industry.
After putting out an advertisement in the local media seeking applications for this training session, the Commission received numerous entrants. A panel of renowned players in the audio visual industry had the rigorous task of shortlisting the applicants. Twenty five top contenders selected were called back for a pitching session and eventually, the list came down to ten.
These ten promising Kenyans successfully pitched to the panel and impressed them with their creative writing skills. We are confident they will gain immensely from this training and return to translate this knowledge into tangible productions.
“Project Nollywood” will involve what is called “script to screen” training which means that the ten successful Kenyans will gain knowledge on production processes from the basic beginnings of writing a script to the fruition of a production.
For two weeks, the participants will gain valuable knowledge from veteran producers, cinematographers and directors in “Nollywood”. Upon their return, the Commission will host a workshop where the participants will have the opportunity to share their newly acquired knowledge with other players in the industry. Eventually, the objective will be to see tangible productions come out of this process and a definite impact on the quality of productions as well as improvement in the marketing and distribution of these productions.
UPDATE!
Following our thorough selection process, the following is the list of those kenyan Filmakers who participated in the Project Nollywood!
DEATH DANCERSSIMIYU BARASA-Producer/ Scriptwriter/director
CUANDO SISIMIAMBURU KIMANI-Riverwood director /producer
27 YEARS LATERSHEILA MULINYA-Producer/Director-over 16 productions to her name
THE CHRISTMAS PRESENTKEITH OLENG-Director-joining NYFA next year
HELP ROBERT BRESSON - Director/ Screenwriter
LOVE IS NOT A GAMEALBERT NGONCHE-Distributor/Score writer/Technical
FUNERAL AND PARAFFINMOSES ODUWA ONYANGO-Trainer/Director-has an already established vernacular group
SEX AND POLITIX KIRUMBURU NG’ANG’A-Producer/Cinematographer
THE LOVING CONVICTIONMARIAH ZINZY- Scriptwriter/Director
KFC is proud of the ten participants who came up with the Film "Lost In Lagos".
(L-R front row)Elijah Kahara (KFC), Mburu Kimani, Albert Ngonche, Sheila Mulinya, Naomi Kamau*has since been replaced by Robert Bresson,Nyatichi Sitati (KFC), Keith Oleng , (back row)Mariah Nzinzi, Kirumburu Nganga, Nicholas Njache , Moses Oduwa Onyango , Patricia Mbatia-Macharia (Multichoice) and Simiyu Barasa
Arguably the one of the best films in the country, Malooned! was a last minute entry to the renowned Zanzibar International Film Festival. The film caused received rave reviews and created quite a buzz as the audience appreciated the suspense and drama that it entails.
Screened at the Old Fort’s outdoor auditorium to hundreds of film lovers, the starry night provided the perfect ambience for Kenya’s feature length film.
Actress Gabriella Mutia who played “Di” and Director Bob Nyanja were at the screening, accompanied by veteran funny man Charles Bukeko. KFC’s marketing team was on hand to encourage the filmmakers.
Jurists were encouraged to watch the film at the auditorium to give it the desired feel. It seems that they enjoyed it. Malooned! received the SIGNIS Jury special commendation award as well as the Silver Dhow from the Ziff jury. The recipient of the Golden Dhow was Juju Factory, which received its first ever screening to an audience at KFC’s sinema lounge on 15th December 2007.
Malooned! is currently on a ten state tour of the United States as director Bob Nyanja accompanies the Redykyulass crew and markets his movie.
The Knife Grinder's Tale, is making strides globally as it becomes another award winning film based in Kenya. The film produced and directed by American film maker R. L. Hooker is adapted from a short story by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor and hosts a full Kenyan cast which includes names such Sam Otieno and Mumbi Kaigwa.
The film recently won Hooker Best Director at the Beverly Hills Film Festival 2007 ; before that it was chosen as Best Short Film at the Vail Film Festival 2007 as well as the Fujifilm Graduate Thesis Grant in 2006. The film was also an official selection at the Palm Beach Film Festival, Newport Film Festival and the Boston International Film Festival.
Hooker hopes to return and officially premiere the film later this year.
The Kenya Film Commission is mandated to market Kenya as the centre of excellence in Film production. We strive to reclaim our place as the preferred filming destination in the world! KFC took the bold step to showcase our spectacular locations to the second largest film industry in the world, Bollywood. We set out to invite some of the best film makers from India. Our target was the new crop of directors who had revolutionised film in the sub-continent. We also set our eyes on India’s largest ad film makers, as well as directors of photography. And to ensure other film makers would get to know our stunning locations, we included a locations expert. Two journalists from CNN/IBN were also invited to cover the tour
This locations tour had been inspired by the Kenya Film Commission’s successful stint at the International Fair on Film Locales (I.F.F.L) in Mumbai in October, 2006; where it was felt that the Commission should go a step further to sell our magical country to Indian producers and directors as well as the Bollywood industry at large.
As a result of our attending the I.F.F.L, the Commission received numerous requests from some key Indian producers and directors who have expressed interest in touring Kenya to scout for locations and possibly shoot films/documentaries and other features here.
Bollywood has greatly boosted tourism numbers in several countries worldwide; a very good example being Singapore where the movie “Krish” was shot. This film resulted in a whooping FIVE million Indian tourists flocking to that country soon after its release. So why not Kenya?
[L-R] Ramya Ramamurthy, Cynthia Kahumbura (former international marketer), Shaad Ali, Nikhil Advani, Dharam Gulati, Rajkumar Hirani, Jitendra Chacha Vikas Sivaranam at KONA BARIDI
The list of producers invited for the all expenses paid VIP trip to Kenya were:
1. NIKHIL ADVANI - Director of “Kal Ho Na Ho” and “Salame-Ishque”. The former assistant director to Karan Johar on hit film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is one of the most sought after directors in India. He is likened to Spike Lee, a revolutionary in directing.
2. RAJ KUMAR HIRANI- Director of hit film “Munna Bhai Lage Raho”. Popularly known as Munna Bhai, Raju directed the two part Munna Bhai. He is currently working on the script for the third part of the film that will feature music from Kenyan diva, Achieng Abura. The film proposes to start shooting in November 2007.
3. SHAAD ALI- Yashraj Films. The young protégée of Bollywood guru Yah Chopra, Shaad has directed hit films like “Saathiya” and the hilarious “Bunty Aur Babli”.
4. VIKAS SIVARAMAN – “Viks”, has shot over one thousand five hundred Ad films. He has also directed documentaries.
5. JITENDRA CHACHA – International Location Scout. Jeet has been a consultant for Indian films that have been shot overseas.
6. DHARAM GULATI – the leader of the delegation and a veteran producer in Bollywood.
7. RAMYA RAMAMURTHY & BHARAT GORI – CNN/IBN journalist and cameraman covering the tour.
Elijah Kahara accompanied the directors on the locations visit and this is his journal of events:
Day 1
A trip to Hells Gate and Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge. The directors liked the hotel and espescially the acacia woodland. A press conference held at the Stanley Hotel was graced by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information & Communication Dr. Bitange Ndemo and a host of media houses; this marked the official beginning of an interesting familiarisation trip. The delegation was introduced to the press and the P.S. Later that night, dinner at Thai Chi restaurant, where the guests loved the ambience of the restaurant. The food was excellent!
Day 2
A long drive to Lake Magadi. On the way, we stopped at Kona Baridi. This place blew them away! Renowned film director Nikhil Advani asked me why we hadn’t started with this location. Back in the CBD, we took a walk on Kimathi Street and Moi Avenue during rush hour. The delegation was thoroughly impressed by the city life. Nikhil was first to exclaim: “I want to shoot here!”A lovely dinner, hosted by Fox theatres at Trattoria and some dancing at Florida gave the group a taste of Nairobi’s night life. Nikhil was very impressed and definitely wanted to shoot at the club. He used some unprintable words to express his excitement!
Day 3
An early start for breakfast at the Victorian style Windsor Country Club. The sumptuous breakfast was set bythe lake, with a beautiful view of the manicured golf course. Lunch was at the Mt. Kenya Safari club in Nanyuki, with the mountain standing majestically in the background. The next hour was spent at the William Holden animal orphanage. A chartered plane was waiting to give the VIPs a breathtaking aerial view of our mangrove, pineapple plantations and vast savannah grassland that characterizes Shaba. The excitement was not over: a sundowner on the bed of Tana River was enough to blow them away! “This is amazing!” gasps Vikas (renowned cinematographer and advertisement guru), as he pulls out his wide lens and starts clicking away. The head of the delegation, Dharam Gulati (renowned director) pulls location expert Yahya Chavanga aside and over the next thirty minutes, he creates a thrilling script!
Day 4
Early game drive, but no cats in sight. A herd of elephants will have to make do. Champagne breakfast by the pond await us at the Sarova Shaba. “Hey Kahara, after this we don’t want lunch. And delay the plane!” Shaad (director of popular hit Bunty aur Bubli) with sausage in hand. Back in Nairobi, dinner is at the Pampa grill, but not before shopping on Biashara Street. The CNN/IBN journalist Ramya Ramamurthy conducts a
feature on hair braiding at Anchor Salon in Chester House!
Club Afrique is our final destination and as we walk in to the celebrity filled club, Diva Achieng Abura is called on stage. Iddi Achieng, Eric Wainaina and Kayamba Africa all perform to the crowd, with our guests in a frenzy on the dance floor! Rajkumar calls me aside and says “I want to use the first lady in Munna Bhai- 3! She is amazing! I love the way she hits those notes! Can I talk to her tomorrow? Please?” Our role is to facilitate, so we do. Achieng Abura is now set to star in a Bollywood blockbuster.
Day 5
An Indian film cannot be complete without trains. So off we go to the Railway museum, the delegation is impressed by the array of relic trains and the whole layout of the museum. After that walk down history, the group visited the Kenya Film Commission offices, and spent some time shopping at Nakumatt Junction. The afternoon saw the group fly off to the Coast. A dhow trip as the sun sets takes us to the Old Port, where we walk to Fort Jesus. “I love this. It is any town in India” says Nikhil Advani. After the Sound and Lights show, a sumptuous dinner was laid out within the Fort.
Day 6
Early morning bus ride to Kinazini Island, a deserted getaway for the romantic at heart. We spot several authentic villages on the way. “This is a typical Swahili village.” The guide explains. “This is a typical Maharashtra village.” Nikhil responds. The boat ride to the waiting Dhow is “excellent for a chase scene,” gasps Nikhil. CNN’s Ramya conducts an interview with Rajkumar Hirani (director of “Munna Bhai”) and he confesses that words cannot describe the beauty of this country. The Dhow takes us to a sand bank which rises when the tide is low. The delegation is quick to dive into the cool blue waters of the ocean and swim to shore! Lunch on the Island is to say the least, amazing! “So, can we hire this place for a party and can we party all night?” asks party animal Shaad!
Back at the Whitesands, dinner is set Swahili style: mbaazi and chapati, wali wa nazi, mshikakis and Kenya’s famous brew “dawa” which did the rounds!
Day 7
It’s a sad day for all of us. The Indian High Commissioner H.E P.S Randhawa and his deputy, Dr. Shulka invite us to an excellent Indian lunch at Haveli’s. “We would have liked one more Kenyan meal,” says Shaad as Acting Managing Director Nyatichi Sitati presents to him a beaded Maasai belt. Souvenirs are presented, cameras click away, tears flow as goodbyes are said! The Acting M.D, Nyatichi sums it up well: “I hate goodbyes, so I will say to you “ see you later”
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation awarded Kibera Kid the Emmy in the
'College Television Award for the Children's Program' category. Kibera Kid which won the award for Best Kenyan Childrens Film at last years Lola Kenya Screen has also been receiving a lot of international recognition and this award takes the count up to SIX !
The film was shot in Kibera and stars first time twelve year old Kibera local Ignatius Juma (who learnt the script in two days! ) . Director Nathan Collett's main intention with Kibera Kid was to show a realistic, engaging and humane picture of life in the urban slums of Africa and to contribute to a better understanding of this world.
Collett recently finished working the camera on Hot Sun's next film Subira . Directed by Ravneet 'Sippy' Chadha, the film follows the life of a young girl living in Lamu and should be ready in a couple of months. Kibera Kid was screened during the GREAT SHORTS film night that was held on February 2nd in the KFC's Sinema Lounge.
Oscar Winning Cinematographer JURGEN TROSTER visits KFC
Cinematographer for the Oscar winning 'Nirgendwo in Afrika' - Jurgen Troster came to the KFC offices to give an interview on his filming experiences in Kenya. Click the link below to see part of the interview.
The Kenya Film Commission has been relatively busy since its inception last year, playing host to ten events in just five months. It is worth noting that activities at the Commission are geared towards contributing to the promotion of the local film industry.
We are proud to have hosted the following events:
Audition for a MNET/DADA FILMS production-RAS STAR. This was very well attended, with most of Kenya’s top talent attending the three day audition. The Production was successfully shot in November, 2006.
Production office for Ras Star - The Production team hired our guest wing for four months, where all the production activities for “Ras Star” were co-ordinated from. Though the actual shoot took only eight days, the production team remained our tenants for four months.
Audition for BBC/PONTACT production of the pilot TV series “THE CALAIS RULES”- This audition was held in our Boardroom, with renowned casting director Keith Pearson holding day long auditions. The British crew also conducted the final call backs in our Boardroom. The production was shot in Nakuru.
Audition for a XMEDIA film HELP! - This audition was a closed audition, running at two venues. Only specific actors were invited by the director Robert Bresson to come and audition at our venue. The production was shot in December, 2006.
Launch of BACKLASH, a Kenyan film - As part of our mandate to develop the local film industry, we sponsored the launch of Backlash, a new Kenyan film. The launch was very well attended, with representatives of media houses in tow. The launch was featured prominently in mainstream media. Other invited guests included stakeholders in the Industry.
Kwani? Litfest Screening
Screening of Balufu’s JUJU FACTORY. Renowned film maker Balufu Kanyinda screened his work in progress, a feature film titled Juju Factory. In attendance were some members of the Press and renowned writers like Binyavanga Wainaina of the Kwani fame among others who gave very helpful comments to the director, thus achieving the intended purpose. It is worth noting that Balufu came straight to the comfort and a cup of Kenyan tea at the Commission straight after his flight landed from Belgium.
Screening of M. G Vassanji’s documentary THE IN BETWEEN WORLD OF M.G VASSANJI -.This documentary by Kenyan born (Tanzanian bred and Canadian citizen) MG Vassanji was a treat to those who attended the Kwani Lit Fest Film night. The maker of the documentary was in attendance to receive comments from the creative minds that graced the occasion. >>www.kwani.org
Interviews for TVN24 - KFC hosted TVN24, a television crew from Poland. The crew conducted a series of interviews on women leaders in Kenya including Hon. Njoki Ndung’u. The documentary, a feature on Hon. Wangari Maathai, captures Kenya’s beautiful landscapes. It will air in March, 2007.
Great Shorts- KFC screened a series of short films that have done well in local and international festivals. We were able to screen six short films to a house full auditorium. The films were namely: Know where to Go? (Guy Wilson), SMS (Aleks Kamau), Emancipation (Sisimka), Kibera Kid (Nathan Collett), Mission Aborted (Willie Owusu), Dark White (Kabinda Lemba- student at Mohammed Amin).
We hope to continue playing host to a lot more events in the near future, as we strive to achieve our mandate to promote local filmmaking ventures.
It is 6a.m on Saturday. The chirping of birds today seems louder than usual. I struggle to get out of bed, just as my alarm goes berserk! I whisper a quick prayer. “Lord, protect our journey to Nakuru.” Nakuru! Ding! Nakuru! Suddenly every organ in my body reacts! We are going to Nakuru! I’m now in top gear as I hurriedly pack a few essentials for the trip.
At the office, I find Sarah waiting patiently, listening to radio on her new Mp3 player! But does she say! Freddy, the gateman informs us that Maurice, our driver has not yet arrived. I’m a little nervous, but Cynthia checks in to break it.
Maurice is here. Our next stop, Nzilani’s place. She’s still not ready! Can you believe her?! She’s quick though. Off we go. Its 8 already! Nakuru is a 156 kilometre drive. The road is smooth, except for that little stretch between Gilgil and Nakuru.
We check in to the Merica hotel at 10.30, quickly freshen up and rush to the roof top. The set is….well….different! The building in the background looks old and worn out, in dire need of a paint job! “It’s perfect, don’t you think?” says Andrew Nightingale, the locations manager. It depicts the appalling state of a war torn town. Point taken.
The sky is blue, the light is just right. It’s a typical day in Kenya, and it’s the set of the Calais Rules. The pilot episode of the BBC comedy, the first to be shot in Africa by the entertainment division of the BBC, is in its third last day of production. British star Martin Jarvis, known for his role in Titanic, the movie and Lloyd Owen, known for his role in Monarch of the Glen are in frame, as director Michael Buffong , who directed award winning episodes of East-enders gives instructions to the crew.
>> Director Michael Buffong (left) and the Assistant Director during a break in shooting on the roof of the Merica Hotel, Nakuru <<
The Calais Rules is a story of journalists stuck in a hotel in a war torn country, Karibu. Script writer-cum- Producer Tira Shubart, a news producer for the BBC says “it is, in a way, a love letter about journalists who have worked and fallen in love with the continent (Africa)…”
Lunch is at 12.30 pm, a huge buffet laid out by the restaurant, overlooking the very inviting swimming pool.
The roof top is the day’s only set. It is now 5.30pm. I am celebrating a humiliating defeat of Billionaire Abramovich’s boys in blue! Chelsea have just been handed a 2-0 whooping by Rafa’s boys at Anfield! That leaves Sir Alex’s boys six points clear. We drive a little around town, familiarizing ourselves with possible film locations. Our last stop is the Hotel Water Buck. It has been used as a location, and is the production base.
The cast and crew are hanging out in the garden restaurant. We get to informally mingle with them. Bedtime comes calling sooner than we had anticipated.
Sunday morning, we gobble down breakfast and dash to the new set. The Nakuru showground. There are various sets constructed at the grounds. The adrenaline is up; everyone seems excited about Ben, the dog who will be blown up. Props department has prepared some gooey stuff that looks like blown up pieces of dog! I can feel my stomach turning! Action! I ’m back to my senses.
Lake Nakuru is calling! The Sarova Lion Hill. We drive in after a close brush with wild buffalo, eland and some other species of deer or antelope. To me, they all look the same. Cute! Edible! The lunch at Lion hill is amazing! I dig in deep. Maurice stays away from the meat. “Si unajua kuna Rift Valley Fever na tuko Rift Valley!” Mh! We are so full, but the bees aren’t. They first attack Nzilani’s Fanta, then slowly work their way down the table to Cynthia’s Ginger Ale. She mercilessly drowns the first one. The bees call for back up. Now that’s our cue to leave.
It’s a nice drive back to Nairobi. My anxiety is killing me. The Premiership is at stake. Manchester United is playing Arsenal.
It’s a wrap!
>>Lucy Chalkley (one of the stars of 'The Calais Rules' ) and Cynthia when the up and coming star visited the KFC offices <<
BBC's 'THE CALAIS RULES' WAS SHOOTING THE PILOT EPISODES IN NAKURU TOWN. THE REST OF THE SHOW WILL BE SHOT ON LOCATION IN KENYA BEGINNING JANUARY 2008. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SHOW www.bbc.co.uk
