The Kenya Film Commission (KFC) is for the first time offering a free countrywide public screening of the films that have been nominated for this year’s Kalasha Awards.

As KFC’S Director, Mwaniki Mageria said during the announcement of the nominees on Tuesday, the aim of the screening is to allow as many people as possible to watch the films and have an idea of what they will be voting for.

The following venues have so far been confirmed for screening with the commission calling out to other counties to propose venues as well; Nairobi- Alliance Francaise and USIU; Kibera Youth; Kisumu – Alliance Francaise; Mombasa – Alliance Francaise; Kericho among other county towns. The public has one month to vote online before the gala event on 19th July.

Generally, even after the Kalasha Awards, the film commission plans to launch a “County Film Screening Initiative” a project that seeks to introduce a screen culture to the counties and give Kenyans an opportunity to watch Kenyan Films.

The price of local films appears to be on the highest side to most Kenyans who are used to buying their much preferred Hollywood movies for as little as Sh 50 and this has led to a poor reception from the local audience who hardly watch Kenyan films.

Producers have also failed in their part to come up with good marketing and distribution channels to make their films accessible by the locals.

Below is the schedule for today’s screening;

LOCATION: UWEZO AWARENESS ORGANISATION-KARIOBANGI NORTH (KAMUNDE ROAD; ENGYO 1997 PLAZA)

START TIME             MOVIE TITLE

10.00AM- 10.20AM – KENJI

10.30AM-11.00AM – SIMIYU SAMURAI 2

11.10AM-11.50AM – THE MARSHALL OF FINLAND

12.00PM-12.25PM – BURNT FOREST

12.35PM-12.45PM – PAINFUL PRICK

LUNCH BREAK

1.15PM- 1.40PM – THE SILENT KILLER

1.50PM-2.20PM – BEYOND LIMITS

2.20PM- 3.40PM – HOUSE OF LUNGULA

3.50PM- 5.00PM – STRENGTH OF A WOMAN