The screen industries, film, TV, animation, and digital mediahave always evolved with technology. But right now, we’re in the middle of one of the most exciting and disruptive shifts in decades. From AI and virtual production to immersive storytelling and data-driven distribution, technology isn’t just changing how content is made, it’s changing what’s possible.

Remember when shooting on a sound stage meant green screens and imagination? Not anymore.  Thanks to virtual production, filmmakers can now shoot scenes in fully digital environments using LED walls and real-time 3D rendering. This technology allows directors to see and adjust visual effects as they shoot, saving time, cutting costs, and unlocking creative possibilities. Whether you’re a major studio or an independent filmmaker, tools like Unreal Engine are making this approach more accessible than ever.

Artificial Intelligence isn’t just hype; it’s already reshaping everything from editing to visual effects to screenwriting. Need to match colour across scenes? Done. Want to localize your film with AI-generated voice dubbing? Easy. Some creators are even using AI to generate concept art or build first-draft scripts. The key here isn’t replacement, it’s acceleration. AI is taking over the repetitive stuff, so creatives can focus on, well, being creative. This calls for you to think of AI not as a threat, but as a really smart assistant.

Today’s audiences want more than just passive viewing. They want to step inside the story. Thus enters VR, AR, and interactive media. Projects like The Line or AR-enhanced documentaries let viewers experience stories in a whole new way, emotionally, physically, and even socially. For content creators, this opens up a fresh creative canvas and new ways to connect with fans. Today, If you’re a storyteller looking to push boundaries, immersive media is where the frontier lies.

Streaming platforms have given creators access to something they’ve never had before: real-time audience feedback. From pilot testing to understanding which characters are most loved, data is becoming an essential tool in shaping stories and strategies. It’s also helping platforms and studios make better decisions about what to greenlight, and how to reach niche audiences more effectively.

With all these new tools comes a need for new skills. Schools and studios are adapting fast, training the next generation in virtual production, interactive media, and AI collaboration.Whether you’re just starting out or deep in your career, staying current with technology is no longer optional it’s part of being a creative professional.

At the end of the day, technology is just a tool. What matters most is still the story, the emotion, the connection and the craft. These tools are evolving fast, and the creatives and companies that lean in, experiment, and adapt are the ones shaping the future of screen content. So, if you’re wondering whether it’s worth exploring the latest tech, the answer is yes. Not because it’s trendy, but because it’s where storytelling is going.

Let us all adapt to the trends as the industry evolves or else you will be left on the wayside.

Funding the Film Industry: A Cornerstone for Economic Growth and a Catalyst for Cross-Sector Development

In the 21st-century creative economy, the film industry has emerged not merely as an avenue of entertainment but as a strategic pillar of economic transformation. Around the world, governments and private investors are realizing that film is both a cultural asset and a financial powerhouse. Yet, in many developing economies, particularly across Africa, investment in film remains marginal — often treated as a luxury rather than a necessity. In truth, funding the film industry is not just an act of cultural preservation; it is a fundamental economic strategy that can unlock growth, create jobs, foster innovation, and catalyze the advancement of multiple sectors.

Film as an Economic Engine
Film production is a high-value chain enterprise that activates numerous sectors simultaneously. Every shilling invested in film circulates through the economy from script to screen, generating demand for goods and services.
Film productions hire writers, directors, actors, and technical crews, but they also engage construction workers, set designers, tailors, make-up artists, transporters, caterers, equipment suppliers, and hospitality providers. In turn, this stimulates SME growth, increases tax revenue, and expands employment opportunities, particularly for youth and women.
Countries that have prioritized investment in film such as Nigeria (through Nollywood), South Africa, and Morocco — have witnessed measurable GDP contributions and expanded creative exports. According to UNESCO, the global creative economy, with film at its core, contributes over 6.1% of the global GDP and employs nearly 50 million people worldwide. This underscores the film industry’s power as a formal economic driver when adequately funded and supported.
Cultural Capital and Global Branding
Beyond its financial return, film is a powerful tool for nation branding and cultural diplomacy. It tells the nation’s story, projects soft power, and shapes global perceptions. Every successful film that emerges from a country amplifies its image, influences tourism patterns, and attracts foreign investment.
A vibrant film sector builds cultural confidence, enabling citizens to see themselves as agents of innovation and value creation. When backed by sustainable funding, local films can compete globally, showcasing authentic stories that resonate with audiences while simultaneously marketing national products, landscapes, and heritage.
A Catalyst for Other Industries
The multiplier effect of film extends far beyond the creative domain. When well-funded, the industry becomes a growth catalyst for multiple sectors:
Tourism: Films shot in local destinations create powerful visual marketing for the tourism sector. “Film tourism” has become a global phenomenon, where audiences travel to locations featured on screen.
Fashion and Design: Costume and wardrobe demands drive creativity and sales in fashion design, tailoring, and textiles.
Technology: Film’s growing reliance on visual effects (VFX), animation, and digital post-production stimulates innovation in tech, ICT, and software development.
Education: Film stimulates the growth of media schools, technical training institutions, and research in storytelling and technology.
Real Estate and Infrastructure: Studios, cinemas, and creative hubs attract real estate investment and urban regeneration, transforming neighborhoods into creative districts.
Every film produced therefore acts as an economic accelerator, drawing value chains from multiple disciplines and fostering cross-industry linkages.
Employment and Skills Development
The film industry is one of the most labor-intensive creative sectors. It offers diverse roles for people of varying skill levels from informal artisans to highly skilled technicians. By investing in film, governments and private financiers are essentially investing in human capital development.
Funded productions offer training grounds for young professionals, nurturing technical competencies in editing, cinematography, sound design, and production management. Over time, this leads to knowledge transfer, professionalization, and the growth of creative entrepreneurship. In economies with high youth unemployment, such an industry can absorb thousands into sustainable livelihoods.
The Economics of Distribution and Export
Film is a high-margin export product. Once created, a film can be distributed across multiple territories and platforms- cinemas, television, streaming, and educational outlets,yielding revenue for years. Unlike commodities, cultural content does not deplete; it accumulates value over time.
Strategic funding ensures that films meet global standards, enabling local creators to tap into the digital streaming economy (Netflix, Showmax, Amazon Prime, etc.), where African content is increasingly in demand. This generates foreign exchange, stimulates copyright protection systems, and supports a creative export strategy aligned with national economic plans.
Social Impact and National Cohesion
Film is a mirror of society. Beyond economic returns, it plays a vital role in social cohesion, education, and values formation.
Funded local stories can address pressing national issues from climate change and gender equality to governance and innovation in ways that resonate emotionally with citizens. This soft power impact supports national development agendas and strengthens shared identity.
Why Strategic Funding Matters
For the film industry to thrive as an engine of growth, systematic and sustained funding mechanisms must be established. These include:

1. Film funds and incentives that reduce production costs and attract co-productions;
2. Tax rebates and grants to stimulate investment;
3. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) to leverage both capital and expertise;
4. Credit facilities for creative entrepreneurs;
5. Investment in infrastructure such as sound stages, studios, and cinemas;
6. Capacity-building programs to equip creators with technical and business skills. Without such measures, even the most talented storytellers remain locked out of opportunity, and the economy forfeits billions in untapped potential.

Therefore let’s look at Film as a National Development Strategy
Funding the film industry is not an indulgence; it is an investment in inclusive economic growth, cultural identity, and industrial diversification. Every well-funded film becomes a platform for employment, innovation, and soft power.
In an era where nations compete on creativity and ideas, those who finance and nurture their film industries will not only tell their own stories but also define their economic futures. For Kenya and Africa, the question is no longer why fund film, but rather how fast can we scale investment to ensure the creative sector becomes a central pillar of our economic transformation.

Writer – Timothy Owase
Certified Film Commissioner
Chief Executive Officer
Kenya Film Commission