This archive report was first published on 1 November 2019.
On November 1, 2019, the Kenya Film Commission (KFC) unveiled the nominees for the 2019 Kalasha TV and Film Awards, following a partnership with Star Times, a Chinese electronics and media company.
The Commission received 959 entries, which were narrowed down to 170 nominees by a team of eight jury members. Each of the 34 categories, except for 'Best Diaspora Production', 'Best TV Reality', and 'Best Feature Film', has five nominees.
However, critics have raised concerns about the voting process, which will be conducted through an application created by Star Times called StarTimes ON, accessible through the Pan African Online Film Festival (PAOFF) platform.
Public voting will constitute only 30 percent of the total tally, while votes from the eight-person nomination academy will make up the remaining 70 percent. Critics argue that this system may be difficult for people without smartphones or internet access in rural areas.
Additionally, some have questioned the classification of certain TV shows, such as 'The XYZ Show', which was included in the 'Best Animation Production' category despite being a puppet show.
