Kenya has always been a popular location for film production. Hollywood
has a long standing affair with Kenya that dates back to the 1930’s. Many classic adventure films were shot on location in Kenya, including The Snows of Kilimanjaro starring Gregory Peck, King Solomon’s Mines with Stewart Granger and Mogambo featuring Clark Gable and Ava Gardner.
Joy Adamson’s book Born Free was made into a hit movie filmed
entirely on location in Kenya. George Adamson was to later take the
trained lions that were used in the film and rehabilitate them into the
wild. The film’s stars Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers went on to
form a charity The Born Free Foundation which continues to support conservation work in Kenya.
Hollywood’s greatest tribute to Kenya came with 1985’s Out of Africa.
Adapted from Karen Blixen’s classic book, the film told the story of
her life in colonial Kenya, with Meryl Streep in the lead role and
Robert Redford playing her lover, Denys Finch Hatton.
With
stunning cinematography and a rich music score by John Barry, the film
brought Kenya to life for audiences all over the world. A major box
office hit, Out of Africa went on to win the Academy Award for Best
Picture.
In 1989, Kenya was the location for the filming of Bob Rafelson’s historical drama Mountains of the Moon.
This epic film won great critical acclaim for its vivid retelling of
the conquest of the Nile, and the great adventure of the Burton and
Speke expedition. Filmed in diverse locations including Lamu, Hell’s
Gate and Lake Turkana, the film shows Kenya at its best.
Kenya has since served as location for several Hollywood blockbusters, including the sequel to Tomb Raider. In 2002 Nowhere in Africa
a German language film about Jewish refugees struggling to creat a new
life in wartime Kenya was shot on location in Baringo, Bogoria and Mt
Kenya. The film was a major success, winning over 14 international
awards, including the 2003 Academy Award for Best Foreign language
film.
The 2005 box-office hit The Constant Gardener was also filmed on location in Loiyangalani, a small town located on the southeastern coast of Lake Turkana. Kenya
is a great destination for television wildlife productions. Many award
winning wildlife series have been shot on location in Kenya by BBC
Natural History, Discovery, Survival and other production houses. The
Maasai Mara continues to be the backdrop for BBC’s popular Big Cat Diary, following the lives of the reserves predators.
Maasai
Mara, Kenya's world famous game reserve, was recently named one of the
new Seventh Wonders of the World in a poll conducted by ABC
Television's Good Morning America, and a broadcast on US morning
television took this spectacle into millions of American homes, live
from the Mara.
Kenya hit the top of US TV ratings with the arrival of Survivor Africa.
The third series of the hit game show was filmed entirely on location
in Shaba Reserve in Kenya. For the producers, Kenya offered the perfect
combination of beautiful locale, stunning wildlife and plenty of
opportunity for adventure.
Subsequent productions have included
the German film 'Nowhere in Africa' which won 14 international awards
including the Acemy Award for best picture, and was filmed on location
in Nairobi, Mt Kenya and the Baringo/ Bogoria region.
LOCATIONS
The
Country’s unique variations in altitude and terrain give an
exceptionally wide variety of locations, including an unspoilt tropical
coastline, glacial ice covered mountains, dense forests, arid sandy
deserts, rich savannas, large lakes and the Great Rift Valley. Expanse
game and wilderness areas have been set aside where little has changed
over the centuries. In a nutshell, this is Africa at its splendid best.
CLIMATE
Kenya
has two rainy seasons. The first is from April to mid-May and the
second from mid-October through November. Even during the rainy season
there is sunshine almost every day. The equator passes through Kenya
and daylight hours do not vary much year round from 6.30am to 6.30pm.
The best filming times are from January to March or mid-May to
September, although filming may be carried out through out the year, as
there are no distinctively marked winters.
LICENCES
The
process of obtaining a film licence is quick, low cost and trouble
free. Applications should be channeled through a registered agent and a
list of these can be obtained from:
The Film Licensing Officer
Ministry of Tourism and Information
P.O. Box 74934 – 00200
NAIROBI, Kenya.
Tel No.
+254-2-650120/1/2
Fax No. 254-2-553003
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.
In
order to obtain a license one should fill an application form
accompanied by a copy of the script and a story synopsis. These should
be sent to the Film Licensing Officer. Film Licenses for documentaries
and commercials are issued within minutes of application. Applications
for dramas and features films are processed in less than 48 hours of
application.
IMPORT DUTY
A nominal and non-refundable
import charge of 1% or Kshs.30,000/= is charged, whichever is less, is
levied on the total quantity of imported items per consignment.
IMMIGRATION
There
are no restrictions in Kenya on how many expatriate crew members or
artists may arrive in Kenya on a visitors pass prior to the Film Permit
being processed. This cost approximately Kshs.2,000/=.
LOCAL AGENTS
A
list of accredited Local Film Agents, who will facilitate location
scouting; transport, hotel reservation, film licenses, shipping etc.
can be obtained from the Film Licensing Officer on request.
FILMING RATES
Documentaries; dramas; short features/stills
- KSH 5,000
Full Length feature film - KSH 15,000
Filming fees per day
- KSH 1,000
FILM INDUSTRY
Kenya
has a long tradition as a location for Hollywood productions and is a
worldwide center for wild life documentaries. Local professionals,
favourable climate and a relaxed friendly atmosphere have helped Kenya
host an impressive array of international film makers who chose its
remarkable locations for epics like: Mogambo, Out of Africa, Gorillas
in the mist, Mountains of the moon, To walk with Lions, Nowhere in
Africa, Survivor III series, Tomb Raider II, together with other
countless television films and series.
VISITING PRODUCERS:
It
is recommended, but not essential, that producers visiting Kenya on
reconnoiters contact the Film Licencing Officer and provide details of
their arrival. This advance notice allows for the provision of V.I.P.
treatment at the Airport.
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