Kenyan film makers are now realizing the urgent need to tell the Kenyan story and document our cultural diversity for posterity.This is definitely good news for the Kenya Film Commission whose passion is to see the growth of local content production.

An exciting outburst of productions is currently underway; many are still being shot, others are in post production.

The Kenya Film Commission facilitated an initiative that saw the Kenyan story, following the post election violence, being told in a dramatic and moving way. The "Sinema Pamoja Project" brought together local film makers who sought to document stories surrounding the post election crisis. Sinema Pamoja consists of four films and currently, the Commission is in the final stages of discussions with local TV station, Citizen TV, who are keen on airing these pieces. Once these pieces are aired, Citizen TV has emphasized their desire to air more local productions and boost their local content portfolio.

The Commission has also embarked on key programmes that are geared at promoting the local film industry. The programmes will embrace local content development and audience development. The Commission has declared 2008 the year of pushing these two agendas to the forefront of its mandate. Partnerships are being established with strategic broadcasters to support this agenda and one institution has even offered to partner with the Commission and inject funding into the popular, rapidly expanding "Riverwood" industry.

Last year's Kenya International Film Festival was a perfect example of this boom in local content production. The festival received TWO HUNDRED locally produced feature films, shorts and documentaries. This is a clear indication that the industry is alive and finding its feet. This year, KIFF organizers say they expect more films from Kenyans and they eventually might have to put a cut off point because of the influx of films.

At present, the youthful, talented film maker Wanuri Kahiu, director and producer of the hit film "Ras Star" is currently working on a feature film that highlights the August 1998 bomb blast. A group of young film makers are in the final stages of marketing TWENTY FIVE films they directed, produced and edited. The Commission is happy to report that the state of the local film industry is looking up and rapidly carving out its rightful niche on the international entertainment map.