‘The Film Week’ returns with 150 African films

A celebration of film and industry kicks off this Thursday as ‘The Film Week’ returns to Windhoek from 12 to 15 March.

The four-day festival will screen over 150 films from 16 countries across Africa amid a programme of expert panels, masterclasses and workshops.

Sessions will take place at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) and entrance to the event is free.

Patrons can look forward to watching Namibian Theatre and Film Awards nominees such as ‘Skeleton Coast’, ‘Under the Hanging Tree’, ‘Lukas’ and “#LANDoftheBRAVEfilm’ among others.

Upcoming, student and experienced industry players are invited to attend sessions on storytelling, production budgeting, casting, set etiquette, post-production, marketing and publicity, pursuing careers in film and creating niche content from Namibia.

“’The Film Week’ is the Namibia Film Commission’s flagship platform for celebrating film as both a creative and economic sector in the country.

Its main goal is to showcase Namibian storytelling, strengthen the local film ecosystem and connect our filmmakers with broader African perspectives,” says Namibia Film Commission (NFC) spokesperson Nicola Muranda.

“The programme represents a wide diversity of genres and film-making voices.

This continental presence enriches the event by exposing audiences and filmmakers to different storytelling approaches, technical styles and production models.”

Muranda says the event is also concerned with nurturing appreciation for local film.

“‘The Film Week’ provides Namibians with a platform and opportunity to experience films that reflect their own realities, languages, landscapes and social issues.

Film is a powerful medium for cultural reflection and seeing Namibian stories on screen strengthens a sense of national identity and hopefully creative pride,” she says.

“Many Namibian films do not have a platform where they can easily be watched, so ‘The Film Week’ becomes an important public exhibition platform where audiences can engage directly with local content. In doing so, the showcase hopes to aid in building demand for Namibian films and nurture a local film-going culture.”

For industry stakeholders such as filmmakers, film students and policy developers, the festival is a space in which to network while sharpening your creative skills and broadening one’s understanding of the local film ecosystem.

“Beyond screenings, the event has industry panel discussions, masterclasses and workshops aimed at addressing some of the key structural issues and gaps in the Namibian film sector, such as financing, marketing, distribution, skills and policy development,” says Muranda.

“The industry programme is intentionally designed to be inclusive and accessible to a range of participants.

This is due to the growing enthusiasm, talent, passion and interest we have seen from emerging filmmakers over the years.”

All sessions and workshops are on a first come, first serve basis.

The festival will welcome 80 participants to the panel discussions and masterclasses and 40 participants per workshop. Participants are invited to register at nfc.na to secure their spots.

‘The Film Week’ badges will be available for collection from 09h00 to 15h00 on Thursday.

Reflecting on her hopes for the upcoming festival, Muranda is looking forward to continued expansion at home and beyond.

“The NFC hopes that filmmakers leave the event better equipped with knowledge, contacts and inspiration to improve the quality, visibility and sustainability of their work,” she says.

“‘The Film Week’ is not only an event for filmmakers, it is a national cultural initiative that benefits the broader creative economy.

The NFC encourages the public, private sector and cultural stakeholders alike to attend the showcase in support of film industry practitioners,” she says.
“‘The Film Week’ is about celebrating our stories, empowering our film-makers and building a stronger future for the Namibian film industry.”

For more information, schedules and registration, follow the Namibia Film Commission on social media or visit nfc.na.
– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com

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