The Kenyan film industry is not growing to its full potential, according to the Kenya Film Commission (KFC), which put the 2009/2010 revenue figure at 3.6 per cent of GDP.
Peter Mutie, chief executive officer (CEO) at the KFC, presented the data at the Broadcast Film and Music Africa Conference (AITEC) in Nairobi today.
He said the local film industry generated revenue worth KSh71 billion (US$825 million) during the year, far below its competitors in Nigeria and South africa.
During the 2009/2010 duration the industry created 4,103 permanent jobs and generated 2.9 billion in wages from 411 establishments.
He adds the numbers are however higher in the period thereafter with the number of permits now up by almost 80 per cent compared to 2009 and hit a high of 3,180 according to 2011/2012 figures.
The numbers are however meagre compared to other countries in the region, especially Nigeria where the industry is the second largest employer after agriculture with one million Nigerians employed as per 2009 figures.
Mutie now wants more investments into the local industry saying an injection of funding into the industry will spur growth and investment.
To this end, he said his organisation will be announcing a deal in the coming days with the Youth Fund to create a film fund that will encourage local film makers.
“Investment will be the magic bullet in Kenya’s film industry,” he said
Mutie said the time has come for Africa to reap more from the film industry similarly to the way the West has been able to mine from local sceneries.
“Hollywood has made billions of dollars out of Africa’s wildlife, but what has Africa made out of it?” he challenged the stakeholders.
He outlined a number of opportunities in the industry including full and short length features, animated films, documentaries, TV drama and realities that will be necessary especially as the digital migration takes full effect.
