Hollywood to set up invention studios in Kenya

Los Angeles California 

Saturday, 23 September, 2023 

McCreadie Andias 

Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, the Arts and sports Ababu Namwamba has today signed a deal with Hollywood invention studios to set up a studio facility in Kenya. 

The deal signed at the Kenyan consolute in Los Angeles by CS Ababu for the Kenyan Government and Invention studios CEO Nick Weinstock opens the door for the growth of Kenya's Film industry. 

According to the Ministry, 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 Ministry adds that the deal will also see e-Talanta become a global platform for Kenyan and African creative content.

In talks attended by Kenya's Consul General in Los Angeles Ted Kwakwa 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.

With the agreement in place, Invention Studios has agreed to commence preparations to start filming in Kenya.

This deal comes a day after The Kenyan Government signed yet another deal with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to set up Basketball facilities in Kenyan.