BY VICTOR ADAR
WildlifeDirect, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Film Commission, BBC Studios Natural History Unit and a conservation charity organisation Wildscreen, have formed a partnership in an effort to conceive and deliver a riveting festival in Nairobi.
The two-day event, dubbed “Wildscreen Festival Nairobi”, will take place from June 30 to July 1, 2023 at Alliance Française, with BBC Studios Natural History Unit as headline sponsor. It will be hosted by Jahawi Bertolli, a Kenyan filmmaker, National Geographic explorer and iLCP associate fellow, who will bring his experience of growing up in Kenya and his passion for natural storytelling.
“Kenya is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, wildlife and iconic destinations which offer a wealth of opportunities for filmmakers. The Wildscreen Festival is a launchpad for accelerating the wildlife filmmaking industry in Africa which will positively impact our economies and nature conservation,” CEO of WildlifeDirect and presenter of the National Geographic series ‘The Secrets of the Elephants’ Dr Paula Kahumbu, said.
One can’t help but notice that this is a unique collaboration between not-for-profit conservation organisations and wildlife filmmaking industry partners that will spotlight the continent’s thriving, creative and unique stories, and celebrate the emergence of Kenya as an internationally significant global film hub.
According to Dr. Erustus Kanga, Ag. Director General, Kenya Wildlife Service the partnership will harness the power of storytelling, film, and innovation to inspire global communities and drive lasting positive change in environmental conservation.
“We stand at the threshold of a shared journey, united in our commitment to protect and preserve our magnificent Kenya Parks and the planet as a whole,” says Kanga. “Together, we will raise our voices, tell compelling stories, and mobilize others to join us in this vital mission of conserving wildlife for posterity. 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.”
The chief executive of Kenya Film Commission, Mr. Timothy Owase says time to recognise Africa’s contribution to the practice of wildlife filmmaking was long overdue. He says: “The continent, and Kenya specifically, has over the years provided producers with picturesque locations teaming with unique wildlife and we as a country are glad that this festival has come home. We look forward to engaging further to ensure the growth of the sector.”
The event will host “wild pitch” session supported by National Geographic, in which six emerging, or established filmmakers born or living in Africa will be selected to pitch their film idea to a panel of international commissioners and have the chance to win a cash prize to help fund their creation.
The expert panel will include Janet Han Vissering, Sr. Vice President, Program Development and Production at National Geographic and Head of BBC Studios Natural History Unit, Jonny Keeling. In addition, the festival will also shortly announce a bursary programme, supporting two emerging Kenyan-based filmmakers and two rest of Africa filmmakers to attend the event.
“This is an exciting venture and one that is borne out of true collaboration to showcase the 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,” Lucie Muir, CEO of Wildscreen, said.
The festival’s programme is being curated with the support of a “festival advisory board”, which includes: Paula Kahumbu, CEO WildlifeDirect; Michael Masheti, Production and Liaison Officer Kenya Film Commission; Nashipae Orumoy, Director Strategic Communications, African Wildlife Foundation; Caroline Cox, Production Executive, BBC Studios Natural History Unit; Janet Han Vissering, SVP Development and Production at Nat Geo Content; Sreya Biswas, Head of Natural History, BBC Commissioning; Chloe Sarosh, Executive Producer, Wildstar Films; Jeff Wilson, Director, Silverback Films; and Asif Choudhury, Deputy Permanent Representative UNEP and UNHabitat and the British High Commission, Nairobi.
“We are incredibly excited to be Headline Sponsor of Wildscreen Nairobi which will celebrate and recognise the hugely significant role of African storytellers in the world of wildlife filmmaking.
“This unique collaboration will bring together programme makers from across the African continent with the wider production community like never before, creating a forum to share learnings, explore new opportunities and to network,” Jonny Keeling, head of BBC Studios Natural History Unit, said.
Wildscreen is a conservation charity that connects creatives within the wildlife film, television, and photography industry with conservationists to raise awareness about the environmental crisis and inspire positive change. It envisions a world where natural world storytelling is inclusive, accessible, and impactful and where nature is protected and thriving.
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