cup had to purchase it from them!
and I answered, Riverwood.
However, having worked for URTNA for a number of years, and making good contacts with Africans across the world, I decided to venture into my own project, hence KIFF. The Kenya International Film Festival is a platform which promotes local productions globally. The uniqueness of KIFF is that, it is the only festival that screens in 5 cities across the country simultaneously (i.e. Kisumu, Mombassa, Nairobi, Nakuru and Eldoret).
Visit River-road one of these fine days and have a look how thousands of local filmmakers are earning decent figures from their films. The quality of the films may not be excellent, but the stories are interesting.
KIFF is about supporting and nurturing Cinema in Kenya. This year, KIFF teamed up with renowned Kenyan Fashion designer Lucy Rao, conducted the African Fashion Week.
What is the point of going into production if you cannot live off it? Having run this festival for close to 6 years now, my advise to local film makers is to be more creative in screen writing. Many local films are tailored like stage plays. I am fully aware that the reason is because a large number of local film makers have a back ground in theatre.
Local film makers need to realize that there is a huge difference between theatre and film, and once that is done, I strongly believe that fashion and film the sky is our limit. go hand in hand; actors and actresses usually don designer wear, and deThis year, over seven Nollywod stars signer depend on actors and actresses were flown in to Kenya courtesy of to promote their products, so it’s a the Nigerian Film Censorship Board quid-pro quo situation. and the Kenya International Film Festival. Nigerian Literary Giant Wole I am also responsible for the name Soyinka also flew in for an interactive “Riverwood”. forum with local filmmakers, lecturNot long ago, I once put a stand for ers, students, and interested individuall the Nollywood films we received als. for one of the MAP TV events and labeled it Nollywood. I labeled the The Sixth edition of the Kenya Interexhibition stand for local film makers national Film Festivals (KIFF), 2011 ‘Riverwood’ and somehow, the name closed in style with The First Grader stuck. scooping an award for the best feature film. I believe, for a film culture to grow in Kenya, it needs a brand name– hence For more on the Kenya International Riverwood. I was once interviewed on Film Festival visit: www.kifftrust.org KTN and was asked what the solution to Kenya’s dwindling film industry is
23 FilmBiz Africa Magazine: Christmas Special 2011