I’m pretty excited; the Kenyan Film Commission has been visiting on a fact finding mission in South Africa – and also to define a Terms of Reference for a consulting contract with Martin Cuff Consulting.
David Maingi took over as the CEO of the Kenya Film Commission just over a month ago, and has thrown himself headlong into the task of repositioning of both the Commission and the entire Kenyan film sector (a challenge made all the more difficult by the current political crisis in the country).
I get the sense though, that Mr. Maingi is not the type to be easily daunted. His visit sought to unpack a range of insights and ideas from South Africa that could be applied back home in Kenya. Wendy-Leigh Boise at Martin Cuff Consulting assisted with planning and organising a packed schedule of meetings with key South African industry organisations, including the National Film and Video Foundation, the Cape and Gauteng Film Commissions, the Commercial Producers Organisation, the Stills Producers Association, the Independent Producers Organisation, the Producers Alliance, the Documentary Filmmakers Association and the South African Screen Federation. There were also fruitful discussions with some of South Africa’s leading production companies, equipment houses, studios, post production facilities and Film Schools. (ed. thanks to all who willingly put time aside.)
Above all, the KFC’s South Africa trip initiated a network of relationships that will prove invaluable in the future. Martin Cuff Consulting is delighted to be assisting in developping a plan of action for 2008, including the development of some 20-30 key projects which will be instrumental in both supporting international productions and assisting in the development of an indigenous Kenyan film industry.