Factors determining annual trend of documentary film production in the country

Most of the documentaries produced in Kenya have been commissioned works from NGOs operating in the country, corporate organisations, and government departments. Some Kenyan film producers have also successfully applied to international film funds with documentary proposals, but these productions are not common. All in all, budgetary considerations are the key factor in Kenya.

Factors determining film length trends in the country, and why

Most commissions for documentary film come with a brief specifying the documentary length and subject matter. Otherwise, budgetary considerations come to the fore and it is generally more expensive to make a longer documentary.

Producers’ funding methods

When crafting and pitching an idea for a documentary, it will usually be at the producers cost. Should the pitch be successful, funds may be available for development, but what usually happens is that a budget covering development, production, and completion is prepared by the producer with an idea of the amount of funding available.

Producers’ documentary film production budget estimation methods

With no official industry guidebook on standard remuneration levels for crew members, producers will rely on their previous production experiences and some production houses will have rate cards which are often negotiable.

Most successful producers and why

The most successful producers in Kenya do a lot of co- production work with crews coming into the country to shoot documentaries in the country. Some other producers find success by building relationships with the bigger NGOs or the UN who have a significant presence in the country.

Local documentary production funding sources

These range from commission funding, which include NGOs, corporate organisations, and government agencies, to privately sourced funds from self, friends, and family. There are also international Film Funds who will, from time to time, call for documentary proposals which receive funding if selected. More recently, there has been a call for documentary proposals from Zuku Life, a pay-TV operator.

Funding eligibility criteria used by local documentary funding sources

To be eligible to pursue such funding, a producer needs to be local in as far as their production is house is fully incorporated in the country. Many commissioning sources will also require previous experience.

Submission requirements used by local documentary production funding sources for funding

Requirements include a synopsis, a detailed treatment and approach, detailed outline, and a preliminary budget.

Ownership issues in documentary film production

These are usually dealt with in the contractual agreement terms and will be subject to the laws of the land.

Documentary film production ownership issues, resolution methods and experiences

The negotiated contract agreement is satisfactory when all ownership issues have been ironed out in the terms. Breach of contractual terms and provisions will be subject to arbitration, judicial process or both.

Revenue allocation issues in documentary film production

When there is revenue generated from a documentary film, how that revenue is allocated will be subject to contract.

Documentary film production revenue allocation issues, resolution methods and experiences

The negotiated contract agreement is satisfactory when all revenue allocation issues have been ironed out in the terms. Breach of contractual terms and provisions will be subject to arbitration, judicial process, or both. However, because the prospect of generating revenue from a documentary is such a remote prospect, funders are usually quite happy to allow producers to benefit from supplementary revenues accruing from DVD sales and box office receipts with permission.

Agreements between fund sources and producers in documentary film production in the country

These will be legally binding and made after a successful pitch and some negotiations.

Deliverables in documentary film production in the country

Delivery requirements often depend on the mode of exhibition, and may be as simple as as DVD copy, but Zuku Life, for instance, has in their commission- ing brief for a documentary series this year specified a delivery format as:

• HD
• Digi-Beta or DV CAM 184
• File delivery via ftp or hard drive as IMX 30 files
• 16:9 Aspect Ratio
• Music & Effect (M&E) tracks

Reporting requirements during documentary film production in the country

According to the contractual terms, documentary filmmakers may have to give account of their progress from time to time during the duration of the project.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT

Current professional development methods in the country

• Film workshops provide an invaluable avenue for professional development.

• Film festivals in the country usually have film workshops in their programme: Lola Kenya Film Festival, Kenya International Film There are other film workshops organised by NGOs in the country including One Fine Day, Global Voices, Synarcade Audio-Visuals, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences global Outreach.
• The Mohamed Amin foundation also has advanced crash courses for industry

Professional development service providers for the filmmaking community in the country

Mohamed Amin Foundation (MoForce)

Professional development needs in documentary film production in the country

Alumni of MoForce are very sought after for their skill in all aspects of film production. This means that in the industry as a whole, the level of skills has potential for great improvement.

Potential funding partners in the country, Africa, and beyond

There are some corporate organisations in the country with vast resources and significant corporate social responsibility programmes.

Film schools in the country

• Kenya School of Mass Communications
• University of Nairobi
• Catholic University of East Africa
• Mohamed Amin Foundation (MoForce)
• Kibera Film School

Documentary film production training programmes in the country

In its seven years in operation MoForce has had over 500 students pass through its doors, but this is not specific training for documentary film production.

Film festivals in the country

• Lola Kenya Film Festival
• Kenya International Film Festival

Business management schools in the country

• University of Nairobi
• Daystar University
• Kenya Institute of Management

These have no direct formal involvement with the film industry in the country.

Journalism schools in the country

An estimated 23 institutions are offering standardised media training at various levels. These include:

• University of Nairobi offers a postgraduate Diploma, a BA and an MA in Journalism which integrate radio and television production, feature and news writing, public relations, photojournalism, communication theory, media law, and
• Daystar University has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and a Certificate and a Diploma in the
• United States International University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, and a minor in the
• Tangaza College, a constituent college of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, has a Diploma course in Communications and Media covering journalism, photography, radio production and
• Maseno University has a Department of Communications and a Media Technology
• The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology ( JKUAT) trains journalists at the degree

At college level

• Kenya Institute of Mass Communication is perhaps the most specialised public institution offering media The courses covered include film production, radio and television training.
• All Africa Conference of Churches, which has a communications training centre, offers a Diploma in media production, photography, radio and television production and public
• East Africa School of Journalism
• School of Media Studies
• Blanes College
• Institute of Communication Studies and Development, Media Network
• Foundation College
• Job Institute, Kenya School of Professional Studies
• School of Media Studies
• Mohamed Amin Foundation
• Andrew Crawford Productions

Journalism training is undertaken by various institutions, including at least six universities and several colleges, but the training is expensive, lacking in modern equipment and facilities, and often too general in orientation, not providing the necessary specialist journalism skills.

Nature of involvement of journalism schools in the professional development of documentary filmmakers

There is no direct formal involvement these institutions maintain with the film industry in Kenya.

Technical schools in the country

The above listed universities and several polytechnics such as the Kenya Polytechnic and Mombasa Polytechnic Kenya College of Communications Technology

Nature of involvement of technical schools in the professional development of documentary filmmakers

There is no direct formal involvement these institutions maintain with the film industry in Kenya.

Professional and peer mentorship in the filmmaking community

These usually happen at film workshops that are held over the year. There are also mentorships that do occur during productions.

Categories of relevant tech-related companies in the country and their numbers

In Nairobi there are several computer shops and software companies. Camera shops can also be readily found. There are also several engineering fabrication companies and electronics supplies businesses.

Film sales companies operating in the country

There are no specialised film sales companies in the country. However, there are distribution networks that have been set up by Riverwood producers.

Film distribution companies operating in the country

• A24 Media, an Internet distribution platform
• Obablo Media Centre
• Third Force (Riverwood)-Riverwood distributors are one and the same with their producers so will finance various professional development

Filmmaking community advisory groups in the country

• Kenya Film Commission
• Kenya Filmmakers Association
• Kenya National Film Agency

Nature of involvement of advisory groups in the professional development of documentary filmmakers

• They mainly organise film
• Kenya Film commission has developed a website with a film industry directory.

Local advocacy groups operating in the country

• Climate Change advocacy groups, Road to COP Taskforce
• Kenya Land Alliance
• Kenya Human Rights Commission
• Kenya Association for the Promotion of Adolescent Health

Nature of involvement of advocacy groups in the professional development of documentary filmmakers

Some of these NGOs will commission documentaries.

Documentary and news archives in the country and its volume

• The Kenya National Archives and Documentation Service (KNADS)
• Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC)
• National Museums of Kenya (NMK)
• Department of Film Services (DFS)
• Kenya Film Commission (KFC)
• Kenya Institute of Education (KIE) Educational Media Service (EMS)
• The Permanent Presidential Music Commission (PPMC)
• Private Institutions, Local broadcasters

Method of archive access and use by documentary filmmakers

Filmmakers can make formal applications to these archives for access.