Malawi Government lauds movie
The Ministry of Education has said the production of the movie titled Mercy Blessing will help in highlighting some problems the girl-child faces in access to education.
It says this will help in finding solutions to the challenges.
Deputy Minister Vincent Ghambi made the remarks in Lilongwe on Friday during the premiere of the movie.
“There are social inequalities that prevent a girl-child from enjoying right to education. Girls and women are seen as inferior. Society needs to change. Those attitudes have no place in the 21st Century. This movie, therefore, is important as it highlights those social
ills, so that we find solutions to the problems we have,” Ghambi said.
The production, with local sound tracks from Shemu Joyah and Overton Chimombo, tells a story of a teenage boy from a rural area, Blessings who had a dream to get his younger sister, Mercy, and himself out of poverty.
Director of the movie, May Taherzadeh, explained how she developed the movie:
“This movie is based on a true life story. I have many friends in Malawi’s villages, who were telling me what girl-children were facing. My heart was to stand with the girl-children.”
According to her, it took a year and half to finish the project.
She said the movie has been sent to 10 international film festivals and it has, so far, managed to win five awards.
The awards include Best Foreign Film at Princeton International Film Festival 2015, Best International Film at Voiceless International Film Festival 2015 and Best Shorts Competition 2015.
Other awards are IndieFEST Film Award (2015) and The Accolade Global Film Competition Award (2015).
Unicef, UNFPA and UN Women and the Ministry of Education are planning to take the film to all corners of Malawi to inspire and encourage girls and boys to focus on education.
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