Time to sample ‘Lilongwe’
Award winning actress Joyce Mhango Chavula made history for the country early last month when her film Lilongwe was voted Best Movie –Southern Africa during the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCAs).
It was not an easy feat for her to come out top as her movie outclassed two South Africa films Tell Me Sweet Something by Akin Omotosho and Ayanda by Sarah Bletcher.
Mhango Chavula’s triumph was even special in that she became the first to win in the category which was introduced this year alongside Best Movie –East Africa and Best Movie – West Africa.
But since she won, questions have come up from Malawians as to which movie was this? When was it released and how good is it?
Well for those who missed out, Lilongwe was premiered last year in October at Madsoc Theatre in Lilongwe during a film festival organised by Film Association of Malawi (Fama).
The K1.5 million budget movie was also selected for screening in the competition category at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival in USA in the same month.
But to cut this entire story short Malawians now have a chance to watch Lilongwe which has started the screening journey.
The film starts screening today at Madsoc Theatre in Lilongwe.
Mhango Chavula said on Tuesday that all was set for the screening of the movie.
“I am excited with this and I am happy that Lilongwe will screen again. We are ready,” she said.
The actress, whose debut movie No More Tears received a nomination in the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in 2014 for Best Feature Film by a Director but she failed to make it, said she was targeting more screenings.
“By May we are targeting showing it in Blantyre and Mzuzu as well as releasing DVDs,” said Mhango Chavula.
She said she felt she should do the screenings now to prepare for her next project.
Before the full screening today, Mhango Chavula was also expected to show snippets of her movie at the same venue on Wednesday as Madsco Theatre closed the activities for women.
Madsoc Theatre dedicated the month of March for women as part of celebrating the International Women’s Day which falls on March 8 every year.
This saw several female artists coming out to showcase their talents through poetry, music and theatre.
The title of the movie Lilongwe is also the name of the country’s capital city where the film was shot and it tells the story of a 13-year old girl who later grows into a beautiful young woman but still haunted by her past.
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