Kenyan Film makers are crying foul after being relegated in the ongoing International Film Convention-Kenya(IFC-K).
In what is a clear purvey of elitism by the industry’s bourgeois; local film makers have been maliciously axed out from the three days convention taking place at the Safari Park Hotel
Onus now lies on self acclaimed moral police, Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Film Classification Board Dr. Ezekiel Mutua and the Chairman of the Kenya Film Commission Christopher K. Foot on why the event is a “suited” affair that does not reflect the face of the local film Industry.
According to a local film maker Mercy Murugi, none of them was invited, the script writers guild was equally left in the cold even after making inquiries only to be told that they had been filled up.
READ: Kenyan Jazz Musician Christine Kamau Set To Dazzle Cameroon
Legendary Director and Writer Ingolo wa Keya bemoaned the lack of inclusion by those tasked with developing the industry adding that “the film industry will not thrive through the convention and conferences, those in the industry knows what ails it and have presented the same to the high and mighty countless times.”
The Theme of the Convention is “Taking the Audio-Visual and Film Industry in Eastern Africa to the next level,” and the question lingering on the minds of Kenyans and those involved hands on in the industry is why is Mutua and his self-centered gang talking about East Africa when the local film makers still shoot in sitting rooms because license is way expensive for them?
Mutua claims the convention will offer a platform to take stock of progress in the creative sector providing an opportunity for local filmmakers to share ideas with renowned producers from across the world.
Question thus is, who is representing the local film makers at the convention and why is the convention ridden with foreigners at the expense of the real stakeholders who are film makers?
Special guests include Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua and Kazungu Kambi who is the Cabinet Secretary for mining and who “has interest’ in the film Industry. The convention sounds like nothing but a money minting venture and one wonder who it benefits.
Other than throwing jabs at the likes of Mutoko and policing gay wild animals, Mutua and his cohorts need to take their work seriously and shed off the superiority cloak towering on their shoulders.
The Kenyan film industry has immense potential and needs representative who have passion to elevate the industry not flying around and insulting folks on social media.
Do you have a story you want told? Do you know of a sensitive story you would like us to get our hands on? Email your news TIPS to Editor@kahawatungu.com
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
