Hotels at the coast to benefit from Films Production

Speaking at the first ever film symposium held in Malindi on 11th and 12th July, Peter Johnson of Maidan Africa informed the participants that his team is planning free training sessions for budding film makers. The course aims at building careers in the film industry, promoting local film talents and exploring the rich coastal filming locations. Ultimately, the Kenya Film Commission (KFC) will use the skills acquired to promote the coastal region as a local and an international filming destination.

Afro Cine Tourism and Coastal Films Kenya organized the symposium, with the latter sponsoring part of the participation fee. Support came also from the KFC and Golden Dreams, producers of the local detective series, “Cobra Squad”.

Mr Hassan Faisal, Tamarind Village manager, also attended the symposium to get the feel of the special needs of the film fraternity. He supported this initiative as this will boost more bed nights in hotels which are still reeling from the effects of the 2007 post-election violence.

He was informed that the hotels do not only lease out rooms during the actual filming, but also for “pre-production” and “post production” purposes.

Mr Faisal, a seasoned hotelier, requested coast hoteliers to be flexible with film makers and give them attractive rates, as accommodation takes a big chunk of the filming budget.

This will enhance the growth of the film sector.

Meanwhile, Mombasa youths should be prepared for a Documentary Film Festival scheduled for August this year and also an International Film Festival in Nairobi in October.

Following the success of the Malindi symposium, the next one will take place in Mombasa on the 10th October at Tamarind Village.