By Judy Joy Mugechi, 14, Pangani Primary School
Published August 13, 2010

Tuesday, August 10, 2010 marked the second day of the Lola Kenya Screen Film Festival; people arrived earlier than on Monday when the festival workers were still tidying up the place. We were asked to join any class of our interest; there was the film production class which was to teach children how to make films. The Creative journalism class was to teach the participants how to be good writers.  There was also film judging which was to teach people how to appreciate films. The last class was event organisation and presentation which was to prepare the participants on how to organise and present events.

After being taken through what it takes, we were assigned to do various tasks. My friends and I were in different classes; Alex and Simon, both 17 years, were to judge the films alongside  10-year-old Vanessa Wanjiku of Buru Buru One Primary School.

“Judging is a bit difficult but enjoyable since one gets to learn new ideas from the films watched.” Said an enthusiastic Simon, a student at Jamhuri High School.

Vanessa, on the other hand, said it was interesting because one gets a chance to watch films from other countries that are thrilling; Alex, a student at Grassam High School, noted that it is especially difficult when there is tough competition.

All of them observed that it was motivating. My other friends Maryanne and James who 16 and 17, respectively, say that being an events presenter is good because it helps boost their self esteem; Jennifer, 14 and Abdi, 16 would like to be filmmakers when they grow up and that is why they chose film production classes and together with 13 others are going to make films in the six days that the festival runs.

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Three of my other friends and I are going through creative journalism classes because writing through the pen is inspiring. It is also nice researching certain topic because you get to socialise with others.
The film judges sat at the front of the Concert Hall where the screenings were to take place while the event organisers guided the audience through the programme announcing what film was going to screen or dismissing them for lunch.

At the end of the day the press was expected to submit a story of about 500 words. Being a member of the press, I was really happy that other than watching films from all over the world I was involved in another activity that charts my way forward to my career as I have always wanted to be a creative writer.