US Embassy Nairobi, in partnership with Youth Film Platform, is inviting applicants for Cohort 2 of the Film Fupi Academy Program. The programme will empower 25 aspiring Kenyan filmmakers drawn from Eastlands, Nairobi County, with practical and professional skills in filmmaking for income generation and social self-expression.
Film Fupi Academy program will provide a hands-on film-making learning experience that builds participants’ exposure to the wide variety of technical and professional skills they will need to write, produce, shoot and edit quality short films featuring effects makeup.
This will expand Kenya’s creative economic development, foster inclusive societies, and provide financial security to Kenyans. The programme is expected to run for 12 months from November 2024 – November 2025.
The rapidly growing film industry is a great trigger for job creation and medium for economic gain worldwide. The African film industry has great potential that can further be tapped for social economic development.
Africa boasts of successful creative industries in some countries including: Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco. Kenya in particular has a small film industry by global standards, but the country has been a filming location since early 1950s. The films made in the country propel Kenyan culture and stories on the global platform.
The government has made conscious efforts to develop Kenya creative industry. There however been few film making capacity development programs. There is need therefore, to unveil the talent especially in youth by building their capacity through hands-on and talent based training and giving them a platform for social-self-expression; telling the Kenyan Story and most importantly for income generation.
According to the Kenya 2019 population census report, over a half of Kenya’s population comprises of youth below 20 years. Few of them are involved in making decisions that affect their lives, desires, interests and future. Similarly, to excel in today’s fast-moving world, takes special skills to rise above the rest. This requires ability to concentrate, conceptualize, connect and synthesize information to arrive at an innovation.
This is best realized through creative arts, besides other initiatives, where youth, among other people can be molded and actively involved. This will ensure that their opinions are heard and respected through filmmaking.
Film Fupi Academy is an initiative that works towards ameliorating skills deficiency in the film industry. This intensive twelve months hands-on Program is designed to familiarize participants with: cinematic language and filmmaking techniques through a series of collaborative assignments including exploration of a variety of film production specialisms; writing and directing to cinematography; composing, production design and editing.
The program will also conduct a specialized film make up classes facilitated by one of Kenya’s finest make-up artist. In order to take the quality of Kenyan Films to the next level, there is also a need for specialized make up skills that contribute greatly to artistic look of the characters in a film. Each of the program beneficiaries will take a compulsory module of make up for film.
The program will provide participants with an opportunity to benchmark with some of the best film makers locally, regionally and globally. The intense and hands on Program will provide a platform to identify and nurture creative talents; and to promote film creation in Eastlands- Nairobi County as a means of job creation for the youth.
The program will also provide intense training in various film making and production techniques to ensure participants acquire requisite skills and a range of cinematic practices. The Program is intended to enhance competencies, innovativeness and creativity; and to address technical skills development in film production.
This will be done by incorporating technology to meet the demands of the current film job market and anticipated continued influence of the digital age in the film industry. Participants will get the opportunity to tap their creative art talents, gain practical experience in film production and popularize the industry for job creation especially for the youth currently left out of film training programs that are academic based.
The Film Industry encompasses many other arts including writing, design, photography, make-up, hairstyling, drawing, performing arts, sound recording and design, editing just to name but a few.
A variety of ancillary services are also provided in the process including Catering, location scouting, casting agencies, film festival and markets among others. The Program will expose learners to all these facets of film production and the wide range of opportunities available in the creative arts industry.
Interested applicants can fill in the online application form and attach the necessary documents and links here.
Timeline
Round 1 Application Deadline: Wednesday, 1 December 2024.
Round 2: Applicants invited to Round 2 will be required to participate in a virtual interview on 6 December 2024.
Selection Notification: 8 December 2024 finalists will be announced and notified and thereafter invited to an Orientation into the program