Kenya - Apply for a Film and Video Distributors License

Advertisement

Procedure

Apply Online

1. Individuals intending to operate a Video and Film Distribution need to apply for a Video and Film Distribution license to the Kenta Film Classification Board (KFCB). This can be done online by visiting the Kenya Film Classification Board Website
2. Upon visiting the Kenya Film Classification Board Website homepage scroll to down to the mid of the page and click on the Online Licensing Tab to proceed to the KFCB online portal.
3. Upon entering the KFCB online portal’s homepage, the applicant needs to click on the “Create Account” tab to register with KFCB or Log into their KFCB online account using either their Username, ID number, Passport number or Business number
4. To register for a KFCB account, provide the required information and click on the “Register” Button to register your account.
5. A prompt message will appear informing you that you have successfully registered your account. Click on the “Log in” button to enter the KFCB portal so as to make the application.
6. Upon entering the KFCB portal select the Film Distributor option and click on the “New Application” tab. This will open the “Film Distributor Application” page to continue the application process.
7. Fill in the required information, and accept the terms and conditions then click on the “Submit Application” Button to proceed to the next page.
8. The next step involves making the application payment. Upon entering the next page, which is the “Application Payment” page, make the payment through using the instructions given. The application fees for the Video and Film Distribution can be found on the “fees” section of this page. Payments can be made through, the following avenues
   • M-Pesa
   • Cheques
   • EFT
   • Bank Deposit
   • RTGS
9. Once the payment has been made, select the payment mode, enter the enter the Transaction Ref Code/No and upload proof of payment receipt and click on the “Submit” button.
10. Upon entering the next page, which is the “Film Distributor Application Status” page, click on the “Generate Invoice” button. This will cause an invoice to be generated and which can be downloaded and saved for future reference.
11. In this page, the applicant can check the status of their application.
12. Once approved, a .pdf copy of their license will be availed in their KFCB account for download by clicking on the “Generate License” button. A hard copy of the license can be picked from the KFCB office near the applicant’s location.
13. Carry proof of identification when collecting the license.
14. The processing time is within 15 minutes of submitting a complete application.

Apply In-Person:

1. To apply for a Video and Film Distribution license in Kenya, the applicant has to contact the Kenya Film Classification Board offices to make the application.
2. Here the applicant will be given an application form by a film licensing officer to fill and submit.
   • Indicate in the form which type of film distribution you want to operate.
3. Fill in the application and attach the required documents. A list of the can be found under the "Required Documents" section of this page.
4. Submit the filled in application form and required documents to the Film licensing officer and pay the required application fees. The application fees to be paid can be found under the "Fees" section of this page or use the following Link.
5. Submit the payment receipt to the film licensing officer, for review of the Video and Film Distribution license application.
6. The licensing officer may, in his discretion, issue or refuse to issue the Video and Film Distribution license.
7. Upon successful review the licensing officer will issue the Video and Film Distribution license.
   • The processing time is within 15 minutes of receiving a complete application.
8. Carry proof of identification when collecting the application.

Advertisement

Required Documents

• Distributor Application Form for Registration to Operate in Kenya form duly completed copy to be attached
• Identification document of applicant
• Identification documents of company directors
• Business registration certificate.

Office Locations & Contacts

Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) - Head Office,
Uchumi House 15 Floor
P.O. Box 44226-00100, Nairobi,
Tel: 0711 222204/ 0777753355 /020 22 50600
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: contact link

KFCB Portal ; Link

Eligibility

• Any person / individual wishing to operate a Video and Film Distribution to the public or a section of the public, are eligible to make the application.

Fees

Annual Fees (KShs.)

• Movie Shop, Video Library, Video Shop, Hawker and Video Game Shop 5,000.00.
• Online Film Distributor 3,000.00.

Validity

• The license is valid for one year.

Documents to Use

• Distributor Application Form for Registration to Operate in Kenya

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

• The applicant gets the license within 15 minutes.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M".

Instructions

Terms and Conditions

• Pornographic distribution not allowed
• All Provisions in Cap 222 Laws of Kenya must be complied with

Required Information

• Name of Company/Proprietors
• Address / Telephone NO.
• Town/Centre
• Name (s) of Director (s) of the company and their Nationalities:
• Name of your exhibition
• Number of CD’s DVD’s and video stapes on shelves.
• Sources of movies
• No. of employees engaged or to be engaged
• Details of any other film distributions you operate elsewhere in Kenya
• Nearest Police Station
• Chief’s Office
• Nearest County Office

Need for the Document

• Anyone wishing to distribute Videos and Films in Kenya must register with the KFCB to get a distribution license.
• It is illegal to distribute films and videos without a distribution license

Information which might help

• A film distributor is any person who sells, supplies, or lets for hire; offering or agreeing to sell, supply or let for hire, or cause or permit to be sold, supplied or hired within Kenya.
• The KFCB regulates film distribution by registering distributors to ensure they operate within the Films and Stage Plays Act Cap 222.
• Anyone distribution a film must register with the KFCB to get a distribution certificate.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

• Films and Stage Plays Act Cap 222
• Licensing film Distributors and Exhibitors

Others

• The Kenya Film Classification Board, a state corporation under the Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts is mandated by Films and Stage Plays Act Cap 222 of Laws of Kenya to regulate the creation, broadcasting, possession, distribution and exhibition of films in the country with a view to promote national values and morality.

The Films and Stage Plays Act has empowered the Board to:

• Regulating the creation, broadcasting, distribution, exhibition and possession of film and broadcast content by:
  • Classifying TV and radio programmes as stipulated in the Programming Code for free-to-air Radio and TV Services in Kenya
  • Classifying all non-programme matter, namely commercials, infomercials, documentaries, programme promotions, programme listings, community service announcements and station identifications.
• Ensuring that content which depicts, contain scenes or are of the language intended for adult audience are not aired during the watershed period
  • Giving consumer advise by empowering film and broadcast content consumer with knowledge to make informed choices
• Registering and licensing film agents, local and international filmmakers, distributors and exhibitors.
• Prescribing and developing guidelines on film and broadcast content regulation in the country.