It was established in 1982 to formulate, coordinate and administer policy in the development of the film industry in Kenya.

The Department is responsible for the production of films on Government development policies and programmes, and promotion of Kenya’s cultural identity, diversity and nationhood.

The department has a film archives for reference in posterity. It licenses local and international crews and provides liaison services. Its sections are: the Licensing and Liaison Services. Its sections are: the film Licensing and Liaison Services, Production Camera/Sound Editing, Dissemination Film Library and Archive Field Services and Engineering.

The department also regulates the film industry through licensing. It is also expected to establish a modern film studio and decentralise film services to all regions. Services at the department include licensing local and international film makers, production of newsreels, documentaries, features, TV ads and inserts and mobile cinema services.

Its goals are to increase filming activities, have a well coordinated and regulated industry, and create awareness through films that address socio-cultural and developmental issues, create employment and increase foreign exchange earnings through film productions.

More than 50 local and foreign private companies deal in film and video production, including production of features, documentaries and commercials. Some Government ministries also have facilities for film production and dissemination.

The department licenses local and foreign crews in the country. To obtain a licence, a copy of the script and story synopsis must send to the Film Licensing Officer. For documentaries, the licenses are issued within minutes of application. For feature films and dramas, they are issued in two days of application. A non-refundable import charge of 1 per cent or Sh30,000 ($400), whichever is less, is levied on the quantity of imported items per container. License fees are as follows:

• Documentaries, dramas, short features or ads and stills Sh5,000 ($62.5)

• Full-length feature films and reality TV shows Sh15,000 ($187.3)

• Daily filming fees Sh1,000 ($12.5)

• Registration of agency Sh12,000 ($150)

• Annual agency renewal Sh12,000 ($150) In Kenya, there are no restrictions on the number of expatriate crew members or artistes who come for a production. An advance notice is more of courtesy than a requirement. Crew members and artists may come to Kenya on a visitors pass before the film work permit is processed. The cost is Ksh. 2000 ($25) each. The department has more than 600 documentaries and archival film material produced by the news film services and weekly Kenya newsreels which constitute 10 minute films on national, historic and development issues