The global streaming giant, Netflix, has recognised the talent of 2016 Fellow, Dorothy Ghettuba, and appointed her their Manager for International Originals. The appointment of the award-winning Kenyan CEO of Spielworks Media comes after Netflix announced in 2018 that it would commission original shows from Africa by 2019.
This move was intended to increase demand for the platform among viewers from Africa and eventually reduce the cost of access. “Telling our African stories. Onwards and Upwards,” said Ms Ghettuba in an Instagram post announcing her appointment.
Dorothy launched the Nairobi-based African production company, Spielworks Media, in 2009 and wished to one day turn the company into an African version of the American motion picture studio, Universal Pictures. She has produced epic programs such as ‘Sumu La Penzi’ and ‘Lies That Bind’.
In 2011, Dorothy was among the Top 40 under 40 Women in Kenya published by the Business Daily. Back in 2016, the same year that she became an Archbishop Tutu Fellow, she was also named among C. Hub magazine’s 100 most creative personalities.
Her appointment is another step towards recognising filmmaking in Africa and follows fellow Kenyan Wanuri Kahiu’s deal with Amazon to help in the adaptation of an Octavia Butler novel. Lupita Nyongo, who’s latest movie “Us”, recently raked in $70million dollars in the US weekend box office. Netflix has recently increased the number of African movies and series, mostly from Nigeria and South Africa, on its platform.
Report