Kenya Film Commission Launches Women-in-Film Programme to Boost Leadership and Enterprise Growth

In a move aimed at reshaping Kenya’s screen sector, the Kenya Film Commission (KFC) has unveiled a targeted initiative to increase women’s leadership, enterprise capability and economic participation in the country’s film ecosystem. The programme — developed in collaboration with the German development agency GIZ — is designed to help bridge persistent gender gaps and build stronger, more sustainable women-led creative businesses. 

The Women-in-Film Incubation Programme recruited its inaugural cohort through a competitive, nationwide application process, selecting ten women from diverse counties and film disciplines to take part in an intensive two-week residency. Rather than focusing solely on craft, the curriculum emphasised enterprise development — including strategy, finance, legal compliance, digital marketing, human resources and even mental wellness — equipping participants with the tools to grow their creative ventures into commercially viable enterprises. 

A key highlight of the programme was a rigorous pitching session judged by industry experts, after which five participants secured €5,000 (approximately KSh 750,000) each to strengthen their production capacity, improve business systems or advance projects toward market readiness. These awardees include an SFX makeup artist expanding character-creation services, a founder of a major Nairobi film festival, digital storytelling advocates and media enterprises highlighting African narratives. 

With Kenya’s film and broadcasting sector contributing an estimated KSh 20 billion (USD 130 million) annually to the national economy, yet women making up only about 30–40% of the workforce, the initiative addresses not just inequality but economic opportunity. KFC CEO Timothy Owase emphasised that nurturing women-led enterprises is crucial to expanding Kenya’s creative economy, widening the range of stories told and building businesses that can compete both locally and internationally. 

Graduates of the residency now enter a three-month mentorship and shadowing phase, working with experts in law, finance, strategy and digital skills to refine their business models, improve investor readiness and strengthen market positioning. Bi-weekly coaching sessions are set to deepen their institutional capacity and make these enterprises more attractive to partners and funders. 

For Kenya’s filmmakers, this programme signals a shift from traditional talent development toward entrepreneurial empowerment — recognising that storytelling can be both artistic and commercial. As the creative economy continues to grow, initiatives like this will be vital in ensuring that women are not only present behind the camera but also shaping the business landscape of African film.