Kenya’s magnificent wildlife will be honoured internationally later this month after four groups collaborated to hold the first-ever African Wildscreen Festival in Nairobi.
The event, billed as Wildscreen’s first-ever African festival, will take place on June 30 – July 1 at the Alliance Française in Nairobi, with BBC Studios Natural History Unit as the lead sponsor.
Wildscreen, BBC Studios Natural History Unit, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Film Commission, WildlifeDirect, and the African Wildlife Foundation collaborated to create the event.
The worldwide partnership between non-profit conservation groups and wildlife filming industry partners will highlight the continent’s dynamic, innovative, and distinctive tales as one of the most actively shot regions of the natural world.
KWS interim Director General Dr. Erustus Kanga stated that they are on the verge of a shared adventure, united in their determination to safeguard and maintain Kenya’s great parks and the world as a whole.
“Through our partnership with Wildscreen, we will harness the power of storytelling, film, and innovation to inspire global communities and drive lasting positive change in environmental conservation,”
Kanga Said
Kanga believes the festival will help elevate voices, convey engaging tales, and motivate others to join the critical task of animal conservation for future generations.
“With dedication, collaboration, and a steadfast belief in our ability to overcome challenges, we will ensure a sustainable and thriving future for wildlife and humanity alike,” he said.
The festival will also commemorate Kenya’s rise as an internationally prominent global cinema hub, including top indigenous storytellers and filmmakers and offer networking, commissioning, and employment possibilities.
It is the first time that all of these entities have collaborated, resulting in a one-of-a-kind partnership with an intended collective impact.
Nairobi is the first city in the Wildscreen Festival 2022 Global Hubs plans to advance and evolve by holding its own event, mirroring the partners’ ambition and vision.
Jahawi Bertolli, an award-winning Kenyan filmmaker, National Geographic Explorer, and iLCP Associate Fellow, will host the festival, bringing his experience growing up in Kenya as well as his enthusiasm for natural world storytelling.
In a headline interview, Kartiki Gonsalves, the first ever Indian film director to win an Academy Award for her debut short documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’, will speak with Dr Paula Kahumbu, CEO of WildlifeDirect and Presenter of the National Geographic series ‘The Secrets of the Elephants’.
Kenya, according to Kahumbu, is recognised for its spectacular natural landscapes, wildlife, and historic sites, which provide filmmakers with a plethora of options.
“The Wildscreen Festival is a Launchpad for accelerating the wildlife filmmaking industry in Africa which will positively impact our economies and nature conservation,” she said.
Timothy Owase, CEO of the Kenya Film Commission, praised the festival organisers for highlighting Africa’s contribution to the practice of wildlife filming.
Owase stated that the continent, and particularly Kenya, has offered producers stunning places teeming with unusual species over the years.
“We look forward to engaging further to ensure the growth of the sector.”
Wildscreen CEO Lucie Muir said the festival provides an exciting venture that is borne out of true collaboration to showcase groundbreaking stories and storytellers from across the continent.
“The talent pool is rich and we hope to help strengthen Kenya’s already high standing as the leading wildlife filming destination in Africa. The opportunities for our industry are unreal to unlock careers as well as creativity and collectively support Africa’s wildlife storytelling economy.”
Jonny Keeling, Head of BBC Studios Natural History Unit, stated that they are thrilled to be the headline sponsor of Wildscreen Nairobi, which will highlight and recognise the very important contribution of African storytellers in the field of wildlife cinema.
Wild Pitch, a headlining session sponsored by National Geographic, will take place during the Nairobi event.
Six young or established African filmmakers born or living in Africa will be chosen to pitch their film concept to a panel of foreign commissioners and compete for a cash award to help fund their production.
Janet Han Vissering, Sr. Vice President, Programme Development and Production at National Geographic, and Jonny Keeling, Head of BBC Studios Natural History Unit, will be on the expert panel.
In addition, the festival will unveil a scholarship plan to help two upcoming Kenyan filmmakers.
The Festival programme is being curated with the help of a festival advisory board that includes, among others, Kahumbu, Michael Masheti, production and liaison officer, Kenya Film Commission; Nashipae Orumoy, director of strategic communications, African Wildlife Foundation; and Caroline Cox, production executive, BBC Studios Natural History Unit.
