There was yet to be a Kenyan production to take up growing international hunger for African stories until Netflix, world’s leading internet entertainment service, signed up filmmaker Dorothy Ghettuba to Produce Netflix International Originals in March.
A few months down the line, the fierce hard worker and go-getter woman landed a top government job. His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed her to be the chairperson of the Kenya Film Commission for a period of three years. Dorothy has added another feather to her cap.
She co-founded Spielworks Media, a local production, content creation company that has had numerous productions that have aired in Kenya, and television stations across Africa, that won three Kalasha Awards and one Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
In 2011 she appeared in Business Daily’s Top 40 women under 40 list. Her contribution to local production and content creation has been impactful. Her role as Netflix International Original will help Kenyan Filmmakers struggling to get their shows streamlined on such a platform, to find their way about it while selling the creative industry in Kenya to the world.
Dorothy will be joining Netflix in June with the title of Manager, International Originals for Europe, Middle East, and Africa. She will be based in the Dutch city of Amsterdam. With more than 27 shows from Africa’s most populated country (Nigeria) on Netflix’s list of contents at one time or another, Kenya can now have a share of the pie into the entertainment world as Nigeria has been enjoying the biggest share of series and movies whose rights have been bought by the on-demand distributors.
Her new role as KFC Chairperson will help shape the film industry in Kenya, promoting local content and nurturing young talents, giving them a platform into the world. Dorothy’s sheer hard work, determination and focus, as seen her become an inspiration and a phenomenal woman in Kenya.
