Kenya’s first-ever film festival, kicked off yesterday at the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC).

The event, which was officially launched by the CS for Sports, Culture and arts Dr Hassan Wario is the first of its kind in the country and is an initiative of the Kenya Film Commission in partnership with the French embassy.

Wario said that Kenya’s film industry has potential but maintained that the only way the industry will grow is only if all players work together.

“Nigeria, Tanzania, Hollywood only have one “wood’ but how many woods does Kenya have,” he posed. “Reduce your woods and work together, that way we will be able to create a brand for Kenya’s wood,” he said.

The Kalasha Film & TV Trade Show aims to showcase Kenyan, East African, and Pan African companies under pavilions and has attracted participants from international TV & Film players.

There were pitching sessions where content creators get an opportunity to pitch their ideas to potential investors and also networking opportunities.

Several workshops including one on copyright and funding took place yesterday. The facilitators emphasized the need for actors to have a body that represents them in order for them to have a collective bargain. They also urged actors to take time and review contracts before they sign them.

According to several local players we talked to, they were optimistic that the revamped Kalasha international film market would provide the much-needed platform to take the industry to the next level.

Content creators like Kikwetu productions were hopeful that the platform would make them meet as many content buyers as possible.