Focus on Ability Society (Foas) in collaboration with Nova Employment yesterday opened voting for films for the 2023 Focus on Ability (Foa) Short Film Festival.
“This film festival is all about promoting abilities and achievements of people with disability and show the world that disability is not inability”, Foas Executive Director Macdonald Nyirenda said.
He said with the call for entries opening in January this year and closing in July, this year they have received 134 international short films and documentaries from 16 countries.
“Out of 134 entries, 31 were from Malawi, making it the most represented country with 23 percent of the total entries. We are excited and call upon filmmakers in the country to keep on telling stories of persons with disabilities,” Nyirenda said.
He said over $100,000AUD in prizes will be shared amongst winners, with the international short film and documentary winners, set to receive $5,000AUD cash prize.
“There is also a great prize for most online votes. If our local community gets behind Malawi films (most online votes), they could win $5,000 AUD. The winner of the international short film and documentary sections receives $5,000 cash prize along with special money,” Nyirenda said.
Apart from competing at international level, Malawian films have a chance of grabbing local prizes with two top films expected to walk away with $500 each whereas two best actors will go home with $250 each.
“Voters also go in the running to win $50 ITunes vouchers but can only vote once in each category for international short film and international documentary,” he said.
Nyirenda has since said that due to an overwhelming number of entries and talents from people with disability including school learners, youth and women, they were calling for support from companies, organisations and well-wishers to sponsor the festival in the country to increase the number of awards from four to 10.
“Since 2017, the festival has awarded over 35 people with disabilities and filmmakers, most of them are the youth and women, with start-up prize money ranging from $250 to $5,000 which has changed their lives,” he said.
