Government Committed to Spurring the Growth of the Creative Economy
The Government is committed to supporting the growth of the film industry and the larger Creative Economy for job opportunities and wealth creation, Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), Ag. Chief Executive Officer, CPA Paskal Opiyo has said.
While addressing the media on the sidelines of the Creatives in Arts and Film Literacy (CAFIL) forum on Thursday, 26th September 2024, at the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM), Mr. Opiyo pointed out that the Creative Economy is among the key priorities of the Government.
“The Government through the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, where KFCB is domiciled is championing key reforms and initiatives aimed at transforming the Creative Economy with the key focus of putting money in the pockets of creatives,” Mr Opiyo indicated.
The Ag. CEO urged local creatives to leverage on the initiatives the Government is providing to showcase and monetize their creativity.
As part of ensuring a facilitative film regulatory environment, Mr. Opiyo said that KFCB has proposed the review of various regulatory frameworks that once ratified will make obtaining licenses easier for filmmakers and promote the ‘ease of doing business for the industry stakeholders.
He further highlighted that the CAFIL program an initiative of the KFCB in partnership with the Sports, Arts, and Social Development Fund (SASDF) is tailored to empower creatives in Arts and Film to create content that upholds Kenya's cultural values while safeguarding children from exposure to inappropriate audio-visual content.
“The Program also aims to create awareness of the existing legal framework guiding the film industry in Kenya,” he added.
Mr. Opiyo mentioned that the CAFIL initiative that the Board has so far rolled out in Kisumu and Nakuru aligns with the Fifth Pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the Talanta Hela Initiative, as well as Vision 2030 which recognizes Creative Arts as a driver for youth empowerment.
“By implementing the CAFIL program and supporting initiatives geared towards talent nurturing and monetization, Mr Opiyo said that KFCB hopes to contribute to a thriving creative economy that supports talent monetization for job opportunities and socio-economic development,” he emphasized.
He further indicated that the Regulators’ Handbook, which the Board recently developed in collaboration with other relevant regulatory Government agencies whose mandates impact the film industry is part of the support the KFCB’s support towards the creative economy.
“We encourage creatives to take advantage of the information provided in the Regulators’ Handbook for their benefit,” the Ag CEO emphasized.
Also present at the Stakeholders Engagement Forum were Professor Leila Abubakar, Vice Chancellor, Technical University of Mombasa, among other officials.
Professor Abubakar thanked the KFCB for recognizing creatives in the CAFIL program, stating that the Technical University of Mombasa will partner with KFCB in programs aimed at empowering young creatives.