The Filamu Zetu Project is a collaborative initiative between Docubox East African Film Fund and Watch Africa CIC, a Welsh creative agency that runs the Watch-Africa Film Festival. Funded by the British Council, the project aims to promote cultural exchange and collaboration between independent filmmakers from East Africa and Wales.

 

The project involved a pilot phase with talented filmmakers from both regions, namely Saitabao Kaiyare and Mugambi Nthiga from Kenya, and Ben Reed and Shwan Nostratpour from Wales. It comprised experiential masterclasses, workshops, film screenings, and panel discussions to create an immersive and inclusive experience for the participants.

The Filamu Zetu Project commenced with the screening of Welsh films in Nairobi, followed by masterclasses held by Ben Reed and Mugambi Nthiga. The second phase took place at the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), where the visiting team from Wales and the Kenyan filmmakers conducted various activities, including screenings, masterclasses, and panel discussions.

In November, the project traveled to Cardiff, Wales, as part of the Watch Africa Film Festival, where additional screenings, Q&A sessions, and panel discussions were organized. The filmmakers also had the opportunity to interact with film students at the University of South Wales, sharing their experiences and work as case studies.

The Filamu Zetu Project was supported by the British Council’s Cultural Exchange Programme, which aims to foster collaboration, network building, and sharing of artists’ work between Sub Saharan Africa and the UK. The project allowed the filmmakers to showcase their work to diverse audiences and create valuable cultural exchanges across three different countries.

The participants expressed their appreciation for the project, describing it as a unique and enriching experience that enabled them to connect with filmmakers and audiences from different cultures while showcasing their work and exchanging knowledge and storytelling in the film industry.

For more information about the Filamu Zetu Project, you can visit their website and connect with them on social media platforms:

• Facebook: @DocuboxFilmFund
• Instagram: @mydocubox
• Twitter: @DOCUBOX