The Kalasha International Film and TV Market is an annual trade fair organized by the Kenya Film Commission with the aim of bringing together film industry stakeholders across the local, regional, and international markets to exchange, collaborate and share stories and insights with the hope of developing new business opportunities. This year’s 3-day trade fair themed “Film Business: The Economics of Content Creation in the Digital Era” kicked off on 10th June 2022 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) Tsavo Ballroom, showcasing both film and animation activities, as well as providing robust interactions through exhibitions, workshops, conferences, networking opportunities, and pitching sessions.
The Association of Animation Artistes had the pleasure of exhibiting a diverse range of animation works from members of the association, at the Animation pavilion. This year, key exhibitors within this pavilion included; Sirnare Animation Studios, Left Eye Studios, Afrikana Digital, The Tsunami Studio, Japheth Mandela, and Victor Mureithi. Andrew Kaggia of Afrikana Digital revealed a teaser of his recently completed 3D Animation Feature Film, which drew in a lot of enthusiasts, being the very first Kenyan animation feature film.
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On day one of the market, the Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of ICT Maureen Mbaka visited the animation pavilion accompanied by The CEO of the Kenya Film Commission Mr. Timothy Owase, and their delegation. Naftally Muriuki, the association’s vice chair gave them a snippet into the animation industry highlighting the mandate of the association in enhancing capacity building within the animation community so as to be able to build a robust production network for the local and global market.
A competitive animation pitching competition was also part of this 3-day event. Khadija Mbesa with Komesha ndoa za utotoni pitch, Maureen Mureithi with Tope Pitch, and Michael Mutah with Kuhu and Babu pitch were the main three contestants in the animation pitching category.
The Jury at the Animation Pitching Competion to the left and Khadija Mbesa and her colleague pitching Komesha Ndoa za utotoni to the right
After swift and steady pitches from the three Michael Mutal of Kuhu and Babu emerged as a winner having presented his concept on a puppet show series. Michael walked away with a prize sum of Kshs. 300,000 and a StarTimes subscription and connection kit. The association is grateful to have Kelvin Shani and Jimmy Gitonga serve as the first judges of the animation pitching competition selection and Dennis Mbuthia, Nimo, Joy Mwangi of Ada Animation and Ruth Muriithi of Dedan Kimathi University who served as the jury on the competition day. Also, the event saw 19 students who had been taken through an animation training course in collaboration with USIU-Africa, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, and Daystar University graduate with certificates upon successful completion of their training. The highlight of this year’s event was marked with an Animators’ Mixer cocktail event on Saturday 11th June 2022 that was filled with games and cheer, sparking a lot of conversations and networking. The attendees of this great cocktail event won 3 return Jambojet tickets to any destination in our great republic of Kenya and Anga Imax tickets for 2
During this 3 day event also, there was an Animators and Gamers Opportunities in the Digital Space Conference which was moderated by Dennis Mbuthia of Africa Digital Media Insitute and the Association of Animation Artistes Kenya. Dr. Isaac Mutwiri, Dean of Faculty at Multimedia University, Mr. David Alex a 3D animator and motion graphic artist at Ada Animation, Andrew Kaggia a 3D animator and Game developer at Africana Digital, Ms. Wix Mugatha a Visual Story Teller, Mr. Dean Lyon of Splinter Studio and Wilfred Kiumi, Director at Africa Digital Media Institute (ADMI) were panelist to the discussion.
The fiveth kalasha International Film and Tv Market will be succeeded by the 12th Edition of the Kalasha International Film and TV awards scheduled to take place on 3 rd December 2022. The Association of Animation Artistes Kenya calls out to all animators to submit their films to the Kenya Film Commission for awards. The submission deadline is 7th October 2022. Click here to learn more about the submission
