One of the country’s renowned independent filmmakers, Philmon Kuipa has unveiled an annual short film festival dubbed ‘Nyasa International Short Film Festival’ as one way of helping to promote the country’s film industry.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana), Kuipa said that his film festival is seeking to promote short films that are tackling various social issues affecting the country and beyond.
“Through the use of short films, this festival will be looking at addressing different social issues that are really affecting us as people not only in Malawi but also across the globe that is why our festival is called Nyasa International Short film festival.
“All we want is to make sure that we talk about issues that people do not talk about,” Kuipa said.
He added that, every year the short film festival will be having a new theme focused on specific issue that needs to be addressed and he revealed that the initial theme for the festival has been called ‘Innovate to Thrive in Tobacco Harm Reduction’.
He also said that, the opening theme has been made to help in addressing issues concerning tobacco harm reduction through the use of short films among other things.
The independent filmmaker further said that in the first phase of his film festival he will train 25 local filmmakers on how they would produce short films in relation to the initial theme of the film festival.
Kuipa, a journalist by profession, said apart from training the filmmakers he will also train 15 journalists on how they would report issues surrounding tobacco harm reduction to the public.
“We believe these are the people who can drive change in society so we want to use their platforms in disseminating information to do with tobacco harm reduction in line with the initial theme of our festival,” he said.
According to him, the main event of the new short film festival will be held in May 2024 at Cross Roads Hotel in Lilongwe where they will beam short films centered on the theme of the festival.
He also said that during the main event of the film festival, journalists and filmmakers who will do well in producing short films and news articles on tobacco harm reduction will receive awards.
One of the country’s veterans in arts and filmmaking, Azaius Mkandawire commended Kuipa for introducing the short film festival.
“Obviously, the new festival will provide opportunities for emerging and renowned film makers to showcase their work to an inspired audience.
“Additionally, consumer habits have changed in the years owing much to technology. So when we have opportunities to bring back and nurture a cinema culture in the country it is always a good thing,” Mkandawire said.
