Fadhili Elly

The Regional Kenya National Drama and Film Festival (KNDFF) has once again concluded, leaving behind not just memories of outstanding performances but also a trail of controversy, frustration, and deep-seated concerns over the future of the festival.

For years, KNDFF has been a beacon of creativity, storytelling, and student expression. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the festival is straying from its original purpose. The loss of credibility, the questionable adjudication, the unfair regional balancing, and the lack of long-term opportunities for participants are threatening to erode what was once the pride of the arts in education.

Regional Balancing: Killing Excellence in the Name of Equality

One of the most frustrating trends witnessed in recent years is the growing practice of regional balancing when selecting teams to proceed to the gala and national levels. Instead of prioritizing quality, originality, and student talent, decision-makers seem keen on ensuring equal representation from different regions—even if it means sidelining more deserving performances.

While inclusivity is important, it should never come at the expense of excellence. If a particular region has more outstanding performances, why not allow them to advance on merit? The festival must decide whether it is a talent-based competition or simply a participation program. If the goal is to develop real talent, then only the best performances, regardless of location, should move forward.

Sponsorship: Where Should the Money Go?

This year, sponsors stepped in generously, offering financial support. Their contributions are invaluable, but where exactly is the money going?

Rather than sponsoring teams, funding should be directed toward planning committees—especially at lower levels where financial struggles often derail organization. Many planning committees operate on limited budgets, and this affects the quality of adjudication, organization, and even the welfare of students.

By strengthening these committees, the festival can ensure better structures, fairer judging, and smoother operations from the grassroots levels to the nationals. This would, in turn, create a more professional and transparent festival.

The Big Question: What’s the Purpose of KNDFF?

Winning at KNDFF should be a life-changing moment for students, but in reality, what do they leave with? A certificate, a bottle of soda, and half a loaf of bread? Is that truly the reward for months of hard work?

Beyond the festival, what next?

• Are winning students mentored into professional creative spaces?
• Are they connected to theatre, film, or broadcasting opportunities?
• Is there a pathway for their talents to turn into actual careers?

At present, the festival feels like a cycle with no end goal—students perform, some win, but after that, their talents fade into oblivion with no clear future. It’s time to redefine the purpose of KNDFF and make it a true launching pad for young talent.

The Way Forward: How Do We Fix KNDFF?

If the festival is to remain relevant and credible, several key changes must happen:

1. End Regional Balancing – Let quality dictate progression, not geographical representation.
2. Redirect Sponsorships – Sponsors should fund planning committees to improve festival structures, rather than just handing out money to teams.
3. Create Career Pathways – Winning at KNDFF should come with mentorship programs, industry connections, and scholarships to help students transition into professional creative spaces.
4. Ensure Transparent Adjudication – Judges must be accountable, unbiased, and focused on merit rather than personal interests.
5. Reignite the Purpose of KNDFF – The festival should be more than just a competition; it should be a gateway to professional growth for students in theatre, film, and media.

The festival must evolve or risk fading into irrelevance. If KNDFF continues to prioritize political balancing over artistic merit, short-term handouts over long-term impact, and outdated traditions over modern opportunities, then it is failing the very children it was created for.

It’s time for a serious conversation. What does the future of KNDFF look like? And more importantly, what does it offer the child beyond the stage?