KFCB Announces New Redefined Roles Of Film Agents In Kenya
The Kenya Film and Classification Board (KFCB) has redefined the role of Film Agents in Kenya.
Adressing the media on Wednesday, the Board’s Ag. Chief Executive Officer Christopher Wambua outlined that KFCB will publish a Public Notice in the press to sensitize the industry on the validated administrative decision on redefining the role of Film Agents in Kenya and the KFCB’s intention to implement it.
‘In order to create a conducive regulatory environment and ensure continued growth of the local film industry, KFCB, in August this year, inititaed the process of redefining the role of Film Agents in Kenya. The redefinition of the role of film agents was also meant to make it easier for young aspiring film makers to obtain licences directly from the Board instead of going through a film agent as in paractice currently. This change would, in effect, restrict the licence scope of film agents to provision of logistical support services to foreign film and the television producers,’ Wambua said.
Wambua also said that the administration decision to redefine the role of film agents is aligned with the Kenya Kwanza ‘Manifesto on the Creative Economy’ under the commitment of working with stakeholders to identify the incentives, capacity building and other support required from the state to scale up cultural production and the creative economy.
‘The removal of the requirement for local film makers to obtain filming licences through a film agent has eliminated one of the key barriers to entry in the sector and thus incentivized young aspiring film makers to participate in the local creative economy through job creation and wealth generation,’ he added.
The redefined roles that the Board announced effective 1st December 2022 are that the role of Film Agents shall be restricted to the provision of logistical support services to foreign film and television producers, KFCB to henceforth issue filming licences to foreign film and television producers through Film Agents, KFCB to begin issuing filming licences to local filmmakers directly without the use of a Film Agent and Film Agents to be issued with an annual Certificate of Registration on such conditions as KFCB shall prescribe.
Others include Film Agents to bear responsibility of ensuring foreign film and television producers comply with the Act and other applicable Laws of Kenya, Local filmmakers to provide details of their business through an annual registration process at no cost and Filmmakers to comply with the Act and other applicable Laws of Kenya.
Wambua also called on parents , caregivers and guardians to be more vigilant and monitor the audio-visual content their children will be consuming on various platforms and to guide them appropriately now that schools are scheduled to close for the December holidays.
‘It is the responsibility of parents, guardians and caregivers to ensure that children under their care are not exposed to age-inappropriate content,’ Wanbua advised.
He advised parents to take deliberate steps to monitor what children watch online and take a keen interest in the gaming content and activities that their children are exposed to especially on the internet and the gaming consoles or play stations at home.
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