Kenyan Creative Edwin Butita Launches Slate 100 to Produce 100 Films in Two Years

Edwin Butita, a well-known Kenyan creative and entrepreneur, has set an ambitious goal: producing 100 Kenyan films in the next two years. Earlier this week, he launched Slate 100 under SMP Africa Studios, a move set to empower Kenyan storytellers and filmmakers.

With a long history in media and mentoring talent, Butita is stepping into the next phase of his career. Through Slate 100, Butita aims to transform Kenyan film by investing in the systems and infrastructure needed for the industry to thrive.

Kenya is known for standout titles like ‘Rafiki’ and ‘Nairobi Half Life,’ but has yet to scale at the level of industries like Nigeria’s Nollywood or South Africa’s film sector. If successful, Slate 100 would mark one of the most ambitious film production initiatives in Kenya’s history.

The initiative has issued an open call for scriptwriters, actors, film crews, producers, and other industry professionals. Butita plans to build a creative ecosystem where filmmakers can access resources and develop their ideas into full-length productions. 

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African Filmmaking in Crisis

In the last couple of years, investment in African filmmaking has taken a hit. Amazon Prime Video stopped green-lighting original productions from Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024. Africa’s largest pay-TV enterprise, Multichoice, is in the process of being acquired by the French media company Canal+. The new owners have indicated plans to shut down the Multichoice streaming service Showmax after several years of losses.

Sales Director at Reach Africa and streaming specialist, Leslie Adams, confirmed that the closure is indicative of global streaming trends. “The streaming industry globally is moving out of its ‘growth at all costs’ phase, which saw it prioritise subscriber count, and into a period where sustainable economics and scale matter far more,” he said. 

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Local Investment 

The retreat of foreign investment and the acquisition of local media houses have raised concerns about the sustainability of the African filmmaking industry. Many African filmmakers struggle to access adequate funding for their ideas, which stalls their creative freedom and production quality. Butita’s Slate 100 positions itself as a response to these challenges.

“Africa has the stories, the talent, and the audience. What we need is consistency, investment, and belief in our own industry. Slate 100 is about building that foundation,” Butita said.

The Future of African Film

More than a program, Slate 100 is a movement determined to build a thriving film ecosystem in Kenya. By connecting filmmakers, producers, scriptwriters, and technical crew to one another, both emerging and established artists will have greater opportunities to bring their ideas to life. 

Interested applicants have been invited to submit film ideas, scripts, short films, and full-length feature productions for review. Selected projects will receive access to the mentorship and resources to ultimately see their films on the big screen. 

At a time when global support is pulling back, Slate 100 places the future of Kenyan filmmaking firmly in local hands.

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