By UNESCO
Reprinted August 14, 2009

The first Eastern Africa Independent Producers Forum opened in Nairobi, Kenya on August 13, 2009. It brings together participants from eight countries(Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda)to discuss and make recommendations on the setting up of an East African Independent Producers Organisation.

The following selected themes and topics, reflecting the key vision, mission and objectives of the Forum, will be addressed through various moderated discussions and presentations:
Theoretical and political implications, modalities, expected results and working methods towards an East African Independent Producers Organisation and an East African Convention on Cinematic Collaboration;

Historical challenges of independent production in Africa;

The role of government in the development of audiovisual media sector and assessment of necessary regional instruments;

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Towards a common vision and common voice: how to facilitate unity among Eastern African independent producers;

Role of broadcasters in the development of the East African audiovisual media sector, with the special focus on national and public service broadcasters.

The three-day Forum is supported by UNESCO within the framework of its Audiovisual E-Platform and is organised during the Lola Kenya Screen Festival 2009.

The UNESCO Audiovisual E-Platform is a project started by UNESCO, in partnership with the Government of Spain, in 2004 with the overall aim to support international exchange of audiovisual content relating to development issues and to promote audiovisual production as a tool for cultural expression. The Platform also facilitates business-to-business exchanges among professionals in the audiovisual field such as directors, producers, film festival organisers, independent producers of content and broadcasters.

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Lola Kenya Screen is an annual international audiovisual media movement that seeks to place production tools in the hands of children and youth for the advancement of literacy, gender equity, self expression and democracy. Lola Kenya Screen comprises a production workshop, film exhibition and audiovisual media platform for marketing, promoting and distributing films.