Cinema African Film Festival Malawi debuts
The country on Friday welcomed a new baby in the film industry known as the Cinema African Film Festival Malawi which was held at Madsoc Theatre in Lilongwe.
The festival, which is a brainchild of Film Association of Malawi (Fama) and Positivo, started on Friday and ended on Sunday and saw close to 20 films being screened.
With Lake of Stars Festival also hosting the Lilongwe Shorts Film Festival this year which saw film makers being rewarded, Fama said the Cinema African Film Festival Malawi is aimed at disseminating African cinematic culture and promoting cinema as part of the urban and popular culture.
“This festival will be happening every year in October and all we need is the support. We are satisfied with the events during the three days and people have watched over 20 films which include films from other African countries,” said Fama President Ezaius Mkandawire.
He said the platform also brought families together to watch movies on a big screen.
“Things are moving forward and more films are being made and I am impressed in that we had more of the local films. This being the first year, we wanted to put up the platform but more things will come up,” said Mkandawire.
Darren Clark from Positivo said the festival exceeded expectation, saying they received a good number being the first time.
“Years ago I started this festival in Mozambique and when I came to Malawi I decided to link up with Fama and now I am happy we have it on the ground. There is an improvement in terms of quality of the movies and I am happy with the content,” said Clark.
He said directors and film makers came forth with their movies and that they are hopeful that the festival will help lift the film industry in the country and the African continent.
One of the film makers Ernest Chikuni, whose movie Shoe Shiner screened on Friday, said this was a very good platform for them to learn from each other.
“Through this platform people have watched my movie and appreciated my skills and apart from that I have learnt that one can also produce a good movie on a low budget provided you work hard,” said Chikuni.
Apart from Shoe Shiner, film maker and actress Joyce Mhango Chavula premiered her movie titled ‘Lilongwe.’
There were also music performances during the festival which received support from, among others, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and Techno Brain.
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues
