CS ABABU SIGNS DEAL IN LOS ANGELES TO BRING HOLLYWOOD’S INVENTION STUDIOS TO KENYA

Days after signing a historic deal with the NBA in New York to develop basketball in Kenya, CS Ababu Namwamba inked another groundbreaking deal with Hollywood’s Invention Studios that opens the door for the rapid growth of Kenya’s film industry.

The deal, signed at the Kenyan Consulate in Los Angeles by CS Ababu for Government of Kenya and Invention Studios CEO Nicky Weinstock, is the rapid realisation of a commitment made by H.E President William Ruto when he visited LA and disclosed that the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Arts and Sports was Instituting a comprehensive Incentives Framework to strategically position Kenya as a film making destination of choice.

The deal will see the government of Kenya extend a raft of Incentives to Invention Studios for ease of filming in Kenya, including visa waivers, relaxed entry of filming equipment and ease of access to filming locations. In return, Invention Studios will promote Kenya as a filming destination, shoot multiple movies in Kenya, and support the Talanta Hela Initiative by growing talents and promoting the protection of Kenyan creatives’ intellectual property and access to royalties. The deal will see e-Talanta become a global platform for Kenyan and African creative content.

In talks attended by Kenya’s Consul General in Los Angeles Thomas Kwaka and top Hollywood agent Ozi Menakaya, it was further agreed that Invention Studios would offer technical and advisory support to Kenya for the forthcoming YouthConnekt Africa Summit, scheduled for Nairobi on December 8th – 12th, 2023.

This deal is a dress rehearsal for policy and legislative measures the Ministry is developing to consolidate and unleash the full potential of the Creatives Industry. The deal also comes just a week before the Ministry hosts a historic Film Summit in Nairobi on September 29th, as a follow up to the first Creatives Summit of November,  2022. The Summit will, among other agenda, discuss the draft Film Incentives Framework as well as policy and legislative proposals for the industry.

The Invention Studios deal bears immense impact, offering an unprecedented outlet in global marketing of Kenya and its products, master class clinics for creatives/youth, employment opportunities during movie productions, capacity building for Kenyans in the creative sector and upgrading of the capabilities of the Kenya film school. The ultimate goal is to elevate Kenya to the continental hub for filming commerce in Africa. With the agreement in place, Invention Studios has agreed to commence preparations to start filming in Kenya.