By Ogova Ondego
Published October 21, 2010
The Nairobi-based Lola Kenya Screen audiovisual media festival, skill-development mentorship programme and market for children and youth in eastern Africa marks five years of service to children and youth in November 2010 with two cutting-edge skill-development mentorship programmes.
Consequently, Lola Kenya Screen is inviting children and youth in Nairobi and its environs to apply to the mentorship programmes in Documentary Filmmaking and Critical Writing scheduled for November 29-December 4, 2010 in Nairobi.
The training is scheduled for November/December to enable form four students and standard eight pupils who will have done their national examinations participate and gain the life skills required at the next stage of their formal education.
Lola Kenya Screen has since 2006 showcased some 1750 best possible films for children, youth and family from 98 nations and helped train 61 children in filmmaking, 23 in journalism, 19 in events organisation & presentation and 20 in critical appreciation of creativity. Those trained have come from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe. Many more children have been exposed to media literacy through the Lola kenya Screen’s school outreach programme.
RELATED: Where Writing is fun, not punishment
To celebrate five years of service, Lola Kenya Screen is calling upon interested candidates to apply for consideration in either the critical writing or documentary filmmaking workshop. This, as is usual with the ever popular Lola Kenya Screen programmes for children and youth, will be an intensive, six-day, 8.00 AM-6.00 PM learn-as-you-do programmes that will be facilitated by renowned international experts specialising in issues related to children, youth, mass media, culture and development.
Though preference will be given to applicants who have already participated in any of Lola Kenya Screen programmes (2005-2010), any one interested in the November -December training must apply without exception.
Every application, written by the child/youth and specifying the programme in which one is interested, must include the following information:
– Intention – Expectations – School – Age – Email address – Telephone, preferably cell/mobile number – Physical address – Letter of permission from parent/guardian
The ideal applicant must be aged 6-16 years old (9-18 years for production workshop), both knowledgeable and interested in audiovisual media works and must have the ability to understand, speak and write in English besides thinking, typing and submitting between 500 and 1200-word articles daily. Additionally, the candidate must be ready to work under strict deadlines and should be supported by one’s parents/guardians.
RELATED: Nairobi to Offer Short Courses in Television and Film Production
The application material is to be sent to director@lolakenyascreen.org
The DEADLINE for application is October 30, 2010 at 5.00 PM East African Standard Time.
Admission to the workshops is on the First-Come-First-Served basis.
This training, part of the pan African Cinetoile mobile cinema, will be offered by Lola Kenya Screen in conjunction with Africalia of Belgium, the European Union, ComMattersKenya and ArtMatters.Info
Lola Kenya Screen appeals for support from other well wishers interested in helping shape the destiny of Kenya, Africa and the world through mentoring children and youth. Any one interested in sharing this vision in any way may contact the Directorate of Lola Kenya Screen through director@lolakenyascreen.org, cell 254 733 703374, 254 722 486531, 254 752 745423 or tel 254 20 315258, 254 20 2213318
More about Lola Kenya Screen
Incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Kenya as a charity, Lola Kenya Screen is an international audiovisual media festival, skill-development mentorship programme and market for children and youth in eastern Africa.
Lola Kenya Screen operates in eastern and southern Africa, helping train children and youth in countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania mainland, Zanzibar island, and Zimbabwe.
The annual Lola Kenya Screen film festival is held every second week of August to showcase the best possible international productions for children, youth and family alongside learn-as-you-do skill-development mentorship programmes in film production, film appreciation, creative journalism, event planning and presentation, and media literacy.
Lola Kenya Screen also gives awards to the best children’s film (Golden Mboni Award), the best youth film (14-Plus Award) and the Kids For Kids Africa Festival Award.
RELATED: Daystar University to Introduce Degree Course in Filmmaking
Lola Kenya Screen conducts a mobile cinema programme to schools in and around Nairobi throughout the year and mentor pupils and youth in filmmaking, film appreciation, media literacy, event organisation & presentation.
Lola Kenya Screen runs a monthly Lola Kenya Screen Film Forum (LKSff), a discussion platform aimed at critiquing, encouraging and exploring ways of how to integrate film production in Kenya and eastern Africa with other socio-cultural and economic sectors in order to come up with a vibrant film industry.
Held in conjunction with Goethe-Institut in Kenya, LKSffenables audiovisual media practitioners to watch and discuss short films from eastern Africa, exchange ideas and network every last Monday of the month throughout the year. This forum is often one of the first places where new films can be seen and young talent spotted.
RELATED: Ten Eastern Africans Attend South African Film Talent Campus
Since December 2005 when the first LKSff was held, more than 100 films have been shown: films from Willie Owusu to Just A Band, from Wanuri Kahiu to Judy Kibinge.
LKSff is part of the annual Lola Kenya Screen audiovisual media event.
One may also follow the Lola Kenya Screen progress on lolakenyascreen.org,http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lola-Kenya-Screen-Film-Festival/118564021692 and twitter.com/LolaKenyaScreen.
