NFC launches latest short films

The Namibian film industry was injected with some fresh enthusiasm last week when the Namibian Film Commission (NFC) launched two new locally produced short films and a documentary at a star-studded event at Windoek’s Hilton Hotel.

In attendance were the various stakeholders of the local film industry, representatives from the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology, actors, directors and cinephiles from all walks of life.

Deputy Minister of ICT, Stanley Simataa, congratulated the local film industry for the “strides made in taking the infant industry and using it as a vehicle to alleviate unemployment while telling Namibian stories”.

The three films produced were chosen from screenplays submitted by Namibians and were produced for screen by wholly Namibian casts and crews. Also lauded by the deputy minister was the high level of female participation in these projects.

First to be screened was Marinda Stein’s stellar ‘Coming Home’. Written by the late Songa Simasiku, it tells the story of a young woman burdened by vague but unsettling childhood memories. Nia, played by the former beauty queen who is now force of nature, Odile Müller, returns to her desolate hometown years later to face her stepfather.

The emotional journey of redemption keeps the audience in awe and suspense and Odile is immaculate in a role like none you’ve seen her in before.

Next up was ‘Tjitji – The Himba Girl’, which was directed by Oshosheni Hiveluah and scored by Big Ben and Christian Polloni. It tells the story of a bright, young rural Himba girl. Tjitji, who is portrayed by newcomer Rachel Unoo Kamoruaro, is torn between her parents’ cultural values and expectations, her personal desire to embrace the opportunities life has to offer and maybe, even fulfill her dream of becoming a talk show host.

However, being of marrying age, she struggles at first to convince her parents to allow her to finish her education before getting married.

Third was ‘Waterberg to Waterberg: In the Footsteps of Samuel Maharero’ by Andrew Botelle.

This well-produced and thought-provoking documentary delves into what happened to Samuel Maharero after the battle of the Waterberg in 1904. One minute he was the most influential leader in Namibia, the next he was running for his life with a bounty on his head. ‘Waterberg to Waterberg’ tells of the horrors that marked the 20th century’s first genocide and how after being relentlessly pursued by the invading German army, Mahahero’s people scattered and were hunted down.

“They may have lost most of their possessions in the war, but the Herero carried their culture inside of them and refused to let it die,” said director Andrew Botelle.

The three films will be screened for the public at the NTN on Wednesday, 24 September. Details on the public screening will be released closer to the date.

Also announced on the night was the call for entries for funding for two short film scripts. If you think your screenplay deserves to be made into a short film, submit it to Gideon Kamati at the Namibian Film Commission, situated on the corner of Field and Newton Street in Ausspanplatz, Windhoek. The closing date is 15 October 2014. For more information, contact 061 381 900.

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