skills and networking for filmmakers
On 9th October 2016, the British Council, Docubox and Good Pitch hosted the Good Pitch Kenya Open House event, where filmmakers, funders and partners came together for a Creative Hustle.
The Creative Hustle took place the day after the Good Pitch Live Event and drew on the wealth of knowledge that Good Pitch Kenya brought together. Over 250 stakeholders from 13 countries and 161 organisations to support to six powerful films at the Good Pitch Live event. The documentary films speak to rather urgent social and environmental issues and the teams were pitching for further support to complete their films.
In total the six documentary films raised Ksh. 11,317,700 (£89, 958), as well as further consultation and support from foundations, governments, philanthropists, religious leaders, NGO’s, artists and activists.
The Good Pitch Kenya Open House was an opportunity for the filmmakers to engage policy makers, content distributors, philanthropists, funders, and other stakeholders to better understand how to create partnerships for their work.
Session highlights
In the first session Lizzy Chongoti, CEO Kenya Film Commission, Martin Munyua of The Kenya Film and Television Professional Association (KFTPA), and John Karanja Kenya National Film Association (KNFA) talked about the importance of policy change and the progress that has been made so far for the film industry.
In the second session, critical writer Nanjala Nyambola, Anthony Wafula from HIVOS, Judy Kibinge from DocuBox, and Tony Reilly (British Council Kenya, Country Director) shared details on their work in the arts and how they support the creative sector.
Thereafter Cara Mertes from JustFilms at the Ford Foundation, DocSociety (formerly BritDoc) Director, Beadie Finzi, and Radhi Taylor from the Sundance Documentary Fund shared on the kind of support available from their respective organisations and received questions from the audience.
This led into a session with Don and Steven Markovitz who shared different opportunities in distribution for African filmmakers. To wrap the event there was a screening of the powerful documentary film Invisible City (Kakuma) a film by Lieven Corthouts.
The event was well attended and highlighted the importance of the work organisations like
Docubox that support and grow the documentary filmmaking community. Visit
Docubox to learn how you can apply for small grants, workshops and attend monthly screenings.
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