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Ezekiel Mutua in trouble over illegal screening of Oscar-nominated Kenyan film

This comes a day after he decided to wage war on the LGBT community.

The Hamburg Media School which is the owner of all copyrights for ‘Watu Wote’ sent out a release that termed KFCB and Dr Mutua’s screening of the film as ‘an illegal act and copyright infringement.’

“We, as the owner of all copyrights for Watu Wote, want to point out very clearly that KFCB and Dr Mutua had no right to do so, this screening was an illegal act and a copyright infringement.

All copyright for Watu Wote, and the rights to exhibit it privately or in public lie with the Hamburg Media School. For distribution in all American territories, Shorts International, an entity of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (known as the OSCARS) hold that privilege.” Read part of the statement.

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They also went on to shake the table with a statement that insinuated that Ezekiel Mutua lied about attending the Oscars alongside them. “Further in the public domain, same as on the official KFCB website and in their press release KFCB and Dr Mutua claim to officially attend this ceremony of the 90th Oscars in support of our film together with us. Also, this fact is incorrect. Contrary to this claims Dr Mutua was not in attendance at the ceremony and did not participate in the Oscars with us. He never received an invitation and never was asked to join us. This was an extraordinary privilege for our cast and crew members.”

“Nevertheless we understand the KFCB to be the regulatory body in Kenya accountable for film compliance, and therefore the experts in the fields of copyrights. So we need to ask, how it comes that an institution like this denied several times every communication with us, but then sponsor a screening without owning any rights to the film or getting necessary permissions?

An official letter was written to the head of civil services and copied to KFCB, same as to relevant ministries. We are waiting for their reply.” Read the rest of their statement released via the ‘Watu Wote’ Twitter page.

Ezekiel Mutua has now responded to the accusations levelled by The Hamburg Media School by writing  “I like the kind of "bad" publicity my detractors give me sometimes. It makes me realise how blessed I am. Two years ago I was in every newspaper and Tv over my diplomatic passports. As stories were doing rounds about how my passport had been revoked, I was on air to San Francisco, the United States for a global, forum using the same passport. But our unprofessional media was hyping a different story. They thought they had me. Then I thought to myself: how blessed and humbling that I could even be the subject of such a privilege as a diplomatic passport! Now there is another "scandal" in town: it's said that I "screened" the Oscar featured movie Watu Wote in Las Vegas, Nevada - USA, three weeks ago. Just like the passport story, this is another none issue pushed by some detractors to derail me from my work. They never got anywhere with the diplomatic passport because it was a none issue. They won't get anywhere with this one too, for it's also "too much ado about nothing." But on the flip side, see what I am being accused of - screening a movie in Las Vegas. That's the big league. Such accusations are only common with achievers. I love such publicity even when its dredged in malice and raw jealousy. It makes me want to do bigger things. It's what has brought me to where I am. I will address the matter at the appropriate time after the choir has sung itself hoarse!

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But really how many among those peddling the lies have a diplomatic passport or can stage anything in Githurai let alone Las Vegas!”

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Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: news@pulselive.co.ke

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