By Hussein Kiganda
King Paul Media (KPM) Entertainment, a film school based in Jinja city, is tipped to celebrate 14 years of existence on August 28, at the Innovation Village in Jinja city.
The school has a big fanbase in Turkey and is known for hosting several shows and screenings, as well as Ekigwo Gumbya, a Ugandan traditional fight, in the Middle Eastern country so as to to promote Ugandan culture.
In 2013, their movies were screened in The Happy Days Theatre, one of the leading theatres in Istanbul, a major city in the country.
The red carpet anniversary will include the screening of four of the school’s best movies and showcasing of different projects done in a space of 14 years.
“Since 2008, we have been working hard to produce quality films that can compete on the international market. Our vision is to be a leading lifestyle and entertainment provider through the development and delivery of unique and quality products. Our mission is to build a reputation for our ability to fulfill commitments and honest in dealings to boost film customers’ confidence,” Paul Ssebata, the chief executive officer, told The Kampala Sun.
He revealed that the school has groomed over 5,000 actors, produced 20 movies, and won over 12 national and international film awards.
On how the 14-year journey has been, Ssebata said it has been a tug of war to convince the local audience that Ugandan movies are worth their time.
He, however, expressed happiness that Ugandans are starting to appreciate their movies as much as the global community does.
In Uganda, most of the film schools and film companies are located in Kampala.
On why he chose Jinja city as his base, Ssebata said he wanted to create visibility for the city.
“Jinja didn’t have any visibility in regards to promoting films and culture. I saw it as an opportunity for us to build the film industry in a place with no competition, to help us study the industry well, and to create jobs for the youth who have talent, but do not have the opportunity to be part of the industry,” he said.
