by Thinus Ferreira
The Kenyan actress and director Nice Githinji has become East Africa's first certified intimacy coordinator.
According to the Kenya Film Commission, Nice Githinji's "milestone represents progress towards safer, more professional and respectful working environments across film and television, while setting a new benchmark for industry practice".
The KFC said "As Kenya continues to nurture a professional, inclusive and globally competitive film industry, achievements like this remind us of the importance of embracing new skills, standards and opportunities."
Nice Githinji trained under South African intimacy coordinator and director Sara Blecher, as well as the MultiChoice Talent Factory's (MTF) intimacy coordination programme in 2024.
Last year in an interview Nice Githinji said "Intimacy coordination is very new in the world, but it's even newer for Kenya. My hope is that sooner or later, it becomes the new normal because everyone's mind, body and soul has to be protected on set, whether cast or crew".
The role of an intimacy coordinator in the film industry is defined as a specialised movement designer, risk mediator and consent advocate.
The role functions similarly to a stunt coordinator - ensuring that scenes involving physical intimacy, nudity, semi-nudity or intense emotional vulnerability are safe, highly professional, and precisely choreographed.
In South Africa, the industry's understanding and implementation of the role are codified in the official South African Protocols for Working with Intimate Content in TV, Film, and Associated Media, which were jointly established by industry bodies like the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), the Independent Producers Organisation (IPO) and the South African Guild of Actors (SAGA).
