Kalasha Film & Television Awards Call for Entries extended!
Kalasha Film & Television Awardsis back bigger and better for the 5th edition. Earlier today at the K.I.C.C, the Kenya film Commission (KFC) hosted a briefing for the press, where they announced an extension of the deadline for entries for the 5thEdition of Kalasha Film & TV Awards 2014 to 24th April 2014; an extra two weeks for filmmakers to make sure their entries are intact. The Kalasha Awards competition attracts professional film makers, production houses, donors, business community, interest groups and broadcasting houses from all over Kenya. The awards are in their 5th edition now having been launched in 2009.
The call for entries for the 2014 edition was officially announced in March 2014 with a deadline for April 12 2014 giving filmmakers 2 months to enter their films.
“KFC wants to make sure that no film maker is left behind to be part of this ultimate gala award ceremony, our very own Kenyan Oscars The gala event for this year will be bigger and grand. This high energy and inspiring competition will be held on 28th June, 2014 at the National Museums of Kenya”, observes Caroline Kittur, acting CEO at KFC. 
From left: KFC Board Member Mwaniki Mageria, Benjamin Ochieng aka Benji Bendrix famous for Tears of the Sun movie, currently starring on God’s Not Dead that will Premiere in Kenya on 17th April, Chris Foot, Chairman of KFC Board and Michael Onyango, board member at the Media launch this morning at the KICC
Over this last financial year, KFC has championed a number of other activities that include county workshops in the area of capacity building in Mlolongo, Lamu, Kisii, Nairobi, Nyeri, Kwale where over 400 people were trained in 4 groups of Film Directing and production, Screen script writing, Cinematography-camera, lighting and sound and Screen acting. In Nairobi the Commission supported the training of over 75 teachers in Film production in preparation for Kenya National Schools and Colleges Film and Drama festival in 2014 currently ongoing in Nyeri County.
On the international front, the commission was present at the Association of Film Commissioners International held last Month from 28th to 29th March this year in USA. This was the largest gathering of Locations Show that brought together hundreds of global production VIPs from independent filmmakers to industry veteran, media, film commissioners, while showcasing an unbeatable display of incentives, production locations, and business support services.
“KFC supported Riverwood Awards as part of its sponsorship policy; a number of local film makers were facilitated to attend DISCOP in South Africa. Currently we are looking at the possible support for film makers at Cannes International film festivals slated for May of this year as we must have our rightful place in the global market place and make ourselves easily accessible to international film makers to access us and also for us to pitch for international funding as well as attract big budget films to be shot in the country”, notes Chris Foot, the KFC Board Chair.
It is worthwhile to note that producers from Kenya can collaborate with their counterparts in South Africa for film production owing to the cooperation agreement signed in 2013 at Canne film festival.
In its pursuit to make sure that the film industry is devolved, the Commission at the beginning of March presented to all 47counties at the CCK convened Governors Forum, the economic role and development of the film industry infrastructure. The commission is working to meet with all County Executives that are responsible for film in each county for specific case by case study support before this financial year ends.
“In our drive as KFC to get to see more Kenyan’s watching more Kenyan content we will be discussing the launch at each county; our “County Film Screening Initiative” that will see the development of a screen culture and put to use the social halls available in each county resulting in monthly film screenings”, says Chris Foot.
The Kalasha Film & TV Awards have been designed to allow Kenyans to celebrate their cultural diversity through film and to recognize the role of film in economic sustainability. The Awards seek to challenge local filmmakers, towards quality film productions. The Kenya Film Commission is mandated by the Government to market Kenya as a filming destination to both local and international film markets. The Commission specifically promotes the production of local content and the expansion of local audience. This is a mandate relentlessly pursue.
