European Union Ambassador for Malawi Rune Skinnebach has urged Malawi Government and different stakeholders to put much focus in Arts Industry by pumping in enough resources for the country to be successful.
Skinnebach was speaking on Friday at his residence in Lilongwe during the opening ceremony of fifth edition of European Film Festival.
He further said artists elsewhere needs to be inspired financially hence the call for the Government and other stakeholders to put their focus in the industry.
“I think welfare is very important, artists needs to be inspired to be creative and for the country to be successful in your artistic talent there’s need for collaborative efforts between politicians and stakeholders” he said
Skinnebach added that since the start of European Film Festival in 2017, the event has proved to be a great way of forging connections and dialogue, and each has been enhancing mutual cultural understanding between the Malawians and non-Malawians.
Meanwhile, Skinnebach believes the local movies that are prepared to be shown at the event will attract the audience across the global.
“Sometimes it is almost uncanny how movies made in a European context and – in essence, for a European audience – will remain of interest even if they take on a new dimension and meaning when shown elsewhere, like in Malawi. And I suspect that the same will be true the other way around, and that the Malawian movies which will be shown in the coming days to non-Malawians amongst us, speak to us in new and unpredictable ways” he added.
In his remarks, Minister of Sports and Culture Uchizi Mkwandawire thanked the European Union for organizing the event saying it can easily expose local talents cross the globe.
Mkandawire said “This is very important for us as a country because we will be able to showcase the talent that our young people here in Malawi have to the rest of the world. But at the same time it brings us together as you have seen that people from various countries will be able to share our various cultures”
“There’s so much talent from outside the borders of Malawi and we know that our artists by being able to watch and learn from other countries this platform has provided that opportunity that our artists can be able to see what is being done by other countries and I hope from this they’ll be able to learn one or two things where they can perfect their art” he added
Mkandawire also said the initiative is vital towards complementing Malawi 2063 Agendas in the sense of easing grappling unemployment issues among the youths.
