Kenya to host first ever Indian Film Festival in Nairobi
Kenya is set to host the Indian Film Festival for the first time this year to celebrate India’s 72nd Independence Day. The festival starting from 10th – 15th August will also promote commerce, trade, culture and tourism between both countries.
Speaking on the festival, Indian High Commissioner Rahul Chhabra, said, “It’s the first time that an Indian Film Festival is being organized in Kenya. The festival is committed to a greater appreciation of cinema in particular, art and culture in general, by showcasing Indian films for Kenyan audiences and opening new platforms of bilateral cooperation between both countries.”
The festival which will accommodate the presence of a number of acclaimed filmmakers and celebrities from the Indian film industry and top Kenyan industry players will screen six films in three different languages (subtitled in English), including a Swahili film made by an Indian filmmaker.
The mega event also comes at a time when Kenyan government, through the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), has been persuading India to take advantages of Kenya’s beautiful sceneries as location sites for recording Bollywood movies.
According to KTB Director of Marketing Jacinta Nzioka, Kenya will partner with Bollywood to improve tourists from India which now stands at only 125,000 tourists per year.
Kenya Film Classification Board CEO Dr. Ezekiel Mutua commented that “It is an honor to host Captain Rahul Sudesh Bali, the curator for Indian Film Festival Worldwide in Nairobi to deliberate partnership in hosting the first Indian Film Festival Kenya later in the year. India and Kenya have strong bilateral ties as well as cultural and commerce agreements. We look forward to partner in this festival to enhance the existing ties via films and cinema.”
The IFFK is an attempt to establish euphoria about India & Kenya via cinema. The festival is aimed at promoting Kenya as the first destination for film making amongst the Indian filmmakers and the festival would be promoted extensively in both India and Kenya. It will include some of the finest Indian movies from various film industries across India and shall offer excellent opportunities to the relatively young Kenyan film industry to dialogue and learn newer techniques from the Indian Film Industry.
Speaking on the event, Kenya Film Commission CEO Timothy Owase said, “We are immensely excited to know that the first ever Indian Film Festival is being organized in Nairobi. We at KFC welcome this brilliant initiative by the High Commission of India in Kenya and Captain Rahul Bali Curator IFFW. We are certain that this festival would promote Kenya as the first preferred film shooting location and initiate discussions for co-production opportunities as well as create linkages between Indian Film Makers and Kenya. We are extremely happy and delighted to partner with this Festival.”
