StarTimes signs strategic partnership with Kenya Film Commission

StarTimes Kenya, a Chinese digital television company, on Wednesday signed a strategic partnership with the Kenya Film Commission ahead of the ninth Kalasha International Film and TV Awards, an annual event that celebrates exceptional talent in film and TV.

The commission identified StarTimes ON, an online mobile application, as a strategic platform where shortlisted films will be uploaded for viewing and public voting from Oct 30 to Nov 30.

The app will be the only online voting platform for the awards where entries prepared by the commission will be uploaded.

The public will then have an opportunity to watch and vote for their favorite films on the app ahead of the awards ceremony set for Nov 30.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Timothy Owase, CEO of the Kenya Film Commission said he appreciates the investment, saying it will boost the audiovisual industry in the country, empower filmmakers and make filmmaking a rewarding venture.

"The partnership opens a broader market for our local filmmakers to showcase their talent with the platform also ensuring that our content can traverse our borders thus exerting a great sphere of influence in the region," Owase said.

Hanson Wang, acting CEO of StarTimes, said the partnership will see the awards, for the very first time since their inception, use technology during the public screening and voting for shortlisted films.

"StarTimes Media will customize the requisite interface on StarTimes ON for the shortlisted films for the Kalasha International Film and TV Awards thereby opening up the awards beyond the Kenyan borders while making the voting process very transparent," he said.

StarTimes Media also pledged to sponsor 34 categories in the Kalasha International Film and TV Awards 2019 with StarTimes 43" digital TV sets, Star Times solar panels and StarTimes set top boxes.

The company will secure intellectual property rights for the submitted entries and remit royalties in the event that the submitted films are broadcast on StarTimes ON beyond the duration of the awards.

StarTimes ON has over 17 million downloads in Africa, 1 million of which are from Kenya.