Mariental: The Namibia Film Commission (NFC) on Saturday screened a series of short films in Mariental as part of its regional filmmaker engagement and film screening roadshow, aimed at promoting film development and expanding participation in the country's creative industry. The films screened included 'Kino', 'Itandu', 'The Weight of Tomorrow', 'The B2 Passage' and 'Emanya', culminating in the premiere screening of 'Domingo and Friends'.
According to Namibia Press Agency, NFC Media Officer Nicola Muranda said the commission has embarked on a roadshow covering six regions, beginning in the ||Kharas Region and continuing through Hardap, Omaheke, Oshana, Kunene and Khomas. Muranda said the initiative forms part of the commission's strategic objective to decentralise film development and encourage inclusive participation in the Namibian film economy.
'The roadshow seeks to strengthen relationships with filmmakers residing in different regions, develop a database of industry practitioners and identify specialised skills available across the country,' she said. According to Muranda, the roadshow also serves as a platform to premiere films funded during the commission's previous funding cycle and to provide information on the current funding round, including application criteria and the newly introduced online application system.
She said NFC prioritises authentic Namibian stories that reflect the country's history, culture and social realities and introduced the regional engagements to raise awareness of funding opportunities among filmmakers outside major urban centres. 'The independent judges mainly assess projects based on authenticity and originality,' she noted.
The NFC currently provides up to N.dollars 750 000 per project to cover pre-production, production and post-production costs. 'Domingo and Friends' producer, Joram Domingos, said the film's pre-production phase presented the greatest challenges due to logistical constraints and limited financial resources. He noted that production and post-production progressed more smoothly with support from industry professionals.
'This was my first NFC-funded project and a valuable learning experience. I hope to work on more productions in the future and help put the Hardap Region on the map because people often think nothing creative comes from this region,' said Domingos. He said receiving funding approval for the project was an emotional moment after years of striving to establish himself in the film industry.
'I cried tears of joy when I heard the script had been approved. It gave me an opportunity to showcase my work and promote young creatives from southern Namibia,' he added.