KFCB Assures Creatives of Its Commitment to Support the Growth of the Film Sector
The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) Ag. Chief Executive Officer, CPA Paskal Opiyo, has expressed the Board’s commitment to ensuring a facilitative regulatory environment to spur the growth of the film sector through partnership with industry stakeholders.
While addressing creatives and other stakeholders during the Creatives in Arts and Film Literacy (CAFIL) forum on Monday, 23rd September 2024 at Mavvel Hote in Embu County, Mr. Opiyo stated that the Board has proposed the review of various regulatory frameworks that once ratified will make obtaining licenses easier for filmmakers, as well as promote the ‘ease of doing business for the industry stakeholders.
He further highlighted that the CAFIL program is an initiative of the KFCB in partnership with the Sports, Arts, and Social Development Fund (SASDF) and 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 revealed 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 is providing to creatives.
The Ag CEO encouraged creatives to take advantage of the information provided in the Regulators’ Handbook for their benefit.
Also present at the Stakeholders Engagement Forum were Members of the National Assembly for Manyatta, Hon. Gitonga Mukunji and his Runyenjes counterpart Hon. Eric Muchangi, representatives from the County Government of Embu, among other officials.
Hon. Gitonga thanked the KFCB for recognizing creatives in the CAFIL program, stating that KFCB has a pivotal role in supporting the growth of the creative industry within the country.