Local Film Season

The Oscars are coming up and I’ve already received a tentative invitation to a watch party.

The plan is to see as many of the nominated movies as we can, dress to the nines and watch the awards show as though we’re rising stars, notable patrons or the critical spawn of Roger Ebert.

I imagine the food, the drinks and the vibes will be immaculate. I also wonder how great it would be if we could rustle up this kind of enthusiasm for the Namibian Theatre and Film Awards (NTFA).

While local film access is a major issue and those one-day stints at Ster-Kinekor, local cultural centres or festivals abroad aren’t going to cut it, the reality is that film culture grows where it is nurtured and supported.

It’s built by people who show up to film premieres. It’s cultivated by enthusiasts who fill those one-day screenings which indicate the viability of a second. It’s bolstered by audiences who discuss productions in person, on radio shows, in the press and on podcasts in the spirit of improvement, appreciation and, in the best cases, applause.

Although the ship to watch the theatre nominees has sailed, there are still opportunities to view some of the film nominees online, on Showmax and at The Film Week from 12 to 15 March.

The Namibian Theatre and Film Awards will take place on 28 March and I encourage everyone to see the nominated films when and where they can.

To start, tune in to Showmax – home to a number of NTFA-nominated films. The monthly mobile plan is less than the cost of a movie ticket and you can view NTFA nominees such as ‘Speel Aan’, ‘Lubinda’, ‘Wish for Death’, ‘Die Rooftog’ and ‘Okalila’.

Errol Geingob’s ‘Speel Aan’ is of particular note because it’s tied with Tim Huebschle’s ‘#LANDoftheBRAVEfilm’ for the most film award nominations. Both are in the running for eight awards.

Though the full schedule isn’t out just yet, I know Huebschle’s film will be showing at The Film Week among other NTFA-nominated films.

If The Film Weeks past are anything to go by, screenings may very well be free.

My advice here is to get involved. If you watch ‘Speel Aan’ on Showmax and ‘#LANDoftheBRAVEfilm’ during The Film Week, you’ll have watched two of the best feature film contenders. All told, that’s 16 individual awards on which to set some free and friendly wagers.

Emphasis on the “free” and “friendly”. Gambling addiction is real. Let’s not.

Speaking of free access, you can watch NTFA nominees such as Philippe Talavera’s ‘Kapana’, Roger Rafael’s ‘Ompata’, Michael Kayunde’s ‘Rock the Boat’ and Inchiology Studios’ ‘Tsek’ on YouTube.

Laudika Hamutenya’s short film ‘Emanya’, nominated for best short, is scheduled to screen during The Film Week, so it may be safe to assume that fellow best short nominees, ‘Momeya’ by Ndakalako Shilongo and Rafael’s ‘The B2 Passage’, will be showing too.

Follow the Namibia Film Commission (NFC) on social media to view the full schedule when it drops.

“The Film Week 2026 is going to be a dynamic celebration of African storytelling, creativity and collaboration,” says the NFC in an Instagram post. “You can expect a rich diversity of stories from across the continent. With 140 films screening over four days, this year’s programme has something in store for every film lover. The big screens are calling. Join us 12 to 15 March.”

And so the local film season is set to begin. The Film Week is on its way. The Namibian Theatre and Film Awards are on the horizon and (hopefully!) the watch parties are percolating.

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com

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