SURVEY

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.

 

DISTRIBUTION AND AUDIENCE BUILDING

Existing forms of documentary film distribution in the country

• TV
• DVD
• Theatrical
• Internet

Distribution options taken by local documentary filmmakers

• Many filmmakers use the DVD form of distribution.
• Some NGOs will buy airtime on local broadcast networks to show their

Educational film distributors operating in the country

Educational Media Services

Non-profit film distributors operating in the country

Not yet determined.

Benefits local documentary filmmakers get from educational and non-profit

Should a documentary filmmaker’s work secure distribution, they can build a reputation and it will be easier to get more commissioned work.

Laws and regulations governing the distribution of documentary films in the country

Film industry issues are considered under various legislations including: The Film and Stage Plays Act, Cap. 222 of 1968, The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation Act of 1988, The Kenya Film Commission Order of 2005 and the Kenya Information and Communications Act of 1998, the Copyright Act, 2001.

Laws and regulations governing audience-building for documentary films in the country

It depends on the audience building strategy chosen.

If the media is used, then the laws touching on the media, including: The Defamation Act, Cap 36; The Copyright Act, Cap 130; The Films and Stage Plays Act, Cap 222 (1962); The Kenya Broadcasting Act, Cap 221 of 1998; The Media Act, 2007.

Experiences of documentary filmmakers with legal framework

Experiences have been largely negative because of the filming licenses and permissions that need to be obtained, and the lack of adequate copyright enforcement.

Audience-cultivation strategies used in the country

• Printed media as promotional coverage in newspapers is a common way of raising awareness for a new film If the film is showing on TV it might be promoted beforehand by trailer.
• Word of mouth and social media are also

Originators and executors of audience-building strategies for local documentary films in the country

Filmmakers, Broadcasters

Revenue generation strategies for local documentary films in each distribution channel in the country

DVD sales

Social movements in the country and nature of engagement with local documentary filmmakers

• Mungiki
• Mombasa Republican Council
• Green Belt Movement

African civil society groups in the country

• Kenya Land Alliance
• Green Belt Movement

These NGOs have commissioned documentaries raising awareness for their work.

Potential ADFF partners and other activist groups in the country

These include civil society groups involved with media freedom, such as the African Media Initiative.

Issues concerning distribution rights in each distribution channel and their resolution; Securing and administration of distribution rights in the country

Distribution rights are negotiated and agreed upon by the copyright holders, upon which distribution agreements can be entered.

Prevalence of copyright piracy of film in general and documentary works in particular in the country

Piracy is rampant in Kenya and is often blamed for the problems and stagnation of the film industry. Africa’s cinema industry as a whole is said to be struggling because of illegal movie pirating and the rising popularity of home entertainment.

To create a bootleg one used to have to wait for the movie screening at cinemas, sneak a camcorder into the theatre hall and record the whole movie. The recorded movie would then be mass produced and sold through various outlets in the city and residential areas.

Though they were inferior in quality, movie makers made a killing as newly released movie titles would usually take a while before reaching the Kenyan movie market.

The infamous camera copies have now been replaced with clear movie downloads that are readily available on numerous websites. Cyber café operators are constantly monitoring movie websites for the latest

releases which are being shared online. Increased broadband internet connection has also led to faster download speeds making it possible to preview, rate and download entire movies all in a matter of a few hours.

Measures in place to deal with copyright piracy in the country and their effectiveness

The Copyright Board of Kenya has been conducting raids on stalls and exhibitions that sell pirated movies around cities but have so far not been successful in shutting down operations. The Copyright Board of Kenya requires an authentication device to be placed on all audiovisual material meant for sale.

Internet penetration in the country

• Population - 41,070,934 ( July 2011 )
• Internet country code - .ke
• Internet hosts - 47,676 (2010)
• Internet users - 996 million (2009)

Potential subscribers for an online local documentary library and/or Internet channel

The current number of Kenyans in the Diaspora is estimated at 3 million and Internet users in the country number about 4 million. So, if we assume a 5% subscription rate on a 7 million population we come up with a potential subscriber base of 350,000.

Internet usage by local documentary filmmakers

Local documentary filmmakers are using the Internet to post their work for promotional purposes.

Political sensitivities

Ethnicity is quite a sensitive topic in Kenya especially since the violence occasioned in the country after the 2007 general elections.

 

COMMUNICATION

Modes of communication between local documentary filmmakers and funding sources

This can be done by telecommunication or by face-to- face communications. Written communiqués are also made through e-mail communications.

Channels of communications that allow private exchange of information in the country

Both fixed and mobile communications are possible as is IP telephony via applications such as Skype, but the most secure private communications are by face-to-face exchanges in private premises.

Information sources used by local documentary filmmakers

Members of the filmmaking community in Kenya rely on their industry network to find the information they need.

Kinds of information that local documentary filmmakers would benefit from being in a directory or guidebook

All aspects of the film industry would be very usefully put in such a guide-book. Information on funding, job and training opportunities would be particularly well received.