For many years the department has been designated by the name ‘Film Production Department’ (FPD) which then focused on film production aspects. Since 2003, the department re-packaged its services and changed the name to ‘Department of Film Services’ (DFS) mainly due to the broadened scope of services and products encompassed in film industry.

The name re-orients DFS in its efforts to be customer focused and indeed a one stop-shop service for all.

Pre-Independence
Film production in Kenya pre-dates the independence era. The colonial government made use of film for propaganda purposes through the film units of the Information Services Department. Some of the existing film production companies such as Africapix, Film Corporation of Kenya, East African Services and Pearl & Dean were all established and engaged in film production activities in Kenya before independence.

At independence
At this time, the government was faced with the task of establishing Film Production Services geared to development support purposes. Only an incipient two-man crew used to produce one minute of newsfilm per day. By 1964 the process of recruiting more staff and establishing facilities began as film production activities expanded to include regular coverages of presidential functions for television transmission.

Post independence
In the first decade of independence, film production activities of the ministry remained essentially an integral part of television programme production services. In 1967, with full awareness that film had an immense potential as a tool and catalyst for cultural and national development, Kenya was among one of the first African states to make the bold move of establishing public control over the importation and distribution of films through the establishment of the Kenya Film Corporation (KFC). At this early stage of the independence era, the government was fully committed to the development of all aspects of the film industry and KFC at its inception was expected to contribute to this development.

In 1972 the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting took a major step in the development of film production services by establishing a separate 16 mm documentary Film Production Unit (FPU) at the then Voice of Kenya (VOK). This was followed in 1975 with the establishment of the Kenya Newsreel to produce 35mm newsreels to replace the foreign “British Pictorial” newsreel. The establishment of a Film School at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) in 1976 to train professionals in media and film making further enhanced the government’s commitment in the development of media and film services in Kenya.

Establishment of Film Production Department
In 1982, the government consolidated the development that had been taking place over the period of the previous twenty years by establishing the of Film Production Department (FPD) – now Department of Film Services, (DFS) with the responsibility of coordinating and developing all matters pertaining to film services and undertaking government development policies and programmes.

Among the services under the department include:

• Licensing of local and international film makers

• Providing liaison services

• Production of newsreels, documentaries, features, TV ads and inserts.

• Provision of dissemination & Mobile cinema services

Policy Priority

• Increased filming activities in Kenya

• To have a well coordinated and regulated film industry

• Creation of awareness through films that address socio-cultural and developmental issues

• Creation of employment through film activities

• Increased foreign exchange earnings through film productions

Strategic Objectives

• Contribute to an informed citizenry through production and dissemination of films that address socio-economic and development issues

• Regulate, co-ordinate and oversee the activities of film industry (Cap 222)

• Formulate policy geared towards creating an enabling environment necessary for attracting investment in the sector

• Facilitate the use of film as a medium for cultural exchange, export and tourism

• Maintain a national film archive for reference and posterity

Dissemination
The public has become aware of the existence of a Department of Film Services in the government, leading to an increased requests from a wide cross-section of the general public to disseminate films produced by the department.

Private and public concerns
It is estimated that there are over 50 local and foreign private companies and organizations whose work relates to film/video production including the production of features, documentaries and commercials. Some government ministries also have facilities for film production and dissemination.