Namibian narratives were the cream of the crop at this year’s Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF). With Tim Huebschle’s ‘#LANDoftheBRAVEfilm’ (2019) earning the prize for best narrative feature and Joel Haikali’s ‘Invisibles (KaunaPawa)’ (2019) bagging best narrative short, Namibian stories took the top spots at a festival intent on promoting an “understanding and appreciation of Africa and Africans through moving images”.
“To have a double win for Namibia at a competitive festival such as SVAFF, shows that Namibia does not only have the talent, but also delivers on quality,” says Haikali, whose visually striking film is set in the majestic Namibian outback where his struggling protagonists Kauna and Pawa journey towards freedom and self-love.
“In general, other Namibian films have also won awards at different international film festivals this year and this just shows again and again that Namibia is ready to demand a market share for international audiences and that we are ready to compete on the world stage. “Most encouraging is that this is no longer just the story of one Namibian film-maker but the story of many.”
Comparing 2020 to the heights of 2012 when a collection of seven Namibian short films did much to boost the profile of local film both nationally and abroad, Huebschle echoes Haikali’s sentiments. “This year has been a year of note, not just because we’re navigating through a pandemic, but also because Namibian
short and feature films have travelled far and near, leaving their mark as they do so,” he says.
“The multitude of storytelling voices paints a colourful picture truly representative of the society we as Namibians are a part of. This is amazing and bears the promise of many more stories to come out of our land. More stories means more movies, something that both film teams and audiences can look forward to.”
Though the winning films are very different – one a crime thriller, the other an experimental art house offering – the writer-directors have some theories regarding their universal appeal.
“#LANDoftheBRAVEfilm is a popcorn movie with substance. It’s filled with suspense, action and some comedy, but it also tackles two key aspects that we as Namibians struggle with on a daily basis; the way we treat women in our society and how we have or haven’t dealt with the past,” says Huebschle, whose film follows the exploits of a tough as nails cop named Meisie Willemse as she investigates a series of gruesome murders.
Huebschle further describes his film as a balance of entertainment and meaning which results in a rounded viewing experience. “This is the kind of entertainment I enjoy watching and judging by the audience responses from here and those who have watched it at SVAFF, it’s the kind of movie that appeals to audiences in general,” he says.
As for Haikali’s more abstract ‘Invisibles (KaunaPawa)’, its resonance lies in its silence. “The film has no dialogue. But what we were afraid would be the biggest disadvantage or a tough sell has turned out to be the biggest strength because international audiences can easily follow in their own languages,” says Haikali.
“Often ‘the rest of the world’ – and that includes ourselves on the continent – don’t expect certain images from Africa. I have been hungry to see my image presented in a certain way. I have been hungry to share my vision and that is what I did in this project.
“I used a lot of metaphors and symbols to express the feeling of being invisible and screaming in silence. I tried to give this experience a voice or rather an image that everyone can interpret and engage with.” While ‘Invisibles (KaunaPawa)’ has been busy on the festival circuit in the USA, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, the UK, Rwanda,
Columbia, Switzerland, Germany and France, this win is #LANDoftheBRAVEfilm’s first festival participation after five weeks of local screenings at the end of 2019.
“2020 really has been a hard year and receiving such positive news motivates me and all those who have contributed to the making of our film to carry on doing what we’re doing,” says Huebschle. “In these uncertain times, that kind of certainty is beautiful.”
Follow ‘#LANDoftheBRAVEfilm’ and ‘Invisibles (Kauna Pawa)’ online for more information on the films and screenings.
– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Facebook and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com
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