Founder of the Namibian film production company, Films Icon, has been invited to participate in a film industry roadshow currently underway in Washington, DC and Los Angeles in the United States (US).
Namibian actor, film-maker and screenwriter Jackson Nghinamhito, aka Jacky Pop, was invited to participate by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), in collaboration with Next Narrative Africa.
The roadshow started on Saturday and will run until tomorrow.
According to a letter from the NIPDB to Films Icon, Next Narrative Africa has scheduled meetings with the Namibian delegation of creative economy stakeholders, such as development finance institutions, financiers, educational and training institutions and other stakeholders in the television and film industries in both cities.
These engagements will provide significant opportunities for Films Icon to connect with key stakeholders in the creative economy, says the NIPDB in the letter.
“These interactions will provide valuable networking opportunities, spark potential collaborations and improve access to resources and exposure to the global market – all of which are required to advance Films Icon and potentially contribute to the growth and sustainability of Namibia’s creative sector.”
Next Narrative Africa founder Akunna Cook says with the collaboration, they hope to shift the narrative about Africa and the Black diaspora by telling African stories with global impact.
Cook says for far too long Africans have been subjected to overwhelmingly negative and stereotypical images of themselves.
“Our creativity, intelligence, business acumen, remarkable resilience and tenacity are lacking in popular culture,” says Cook.
According to Cook, media portrayals do not include African people as sources of global solutions or equal partners in providing resources to improve how the world views and engages with the continent.
“With over two decades’ experience as a senior US government official, diplomat, nonprofit founder, lawyer and strategist working to build economic power in black communities, I have witnessed first-hand the disconnect between the reality of who black people are and the media’s portrayal of us.
“It is difficult to attract investment into African or black businesses and founders when the narrative is dominated by stereotypes that cast shadows on the brilliance and talent in our communities,” says Cook.
Jacky Pop expressed his joy at being offered the opportunity to explore the American film industry.
“It is a dream come true. I have heard of Hollywood but I have never been able to accurately imagine what it looks like. I have been curious my whole life. I am ready to learn and discover many new things about the film industry,” he says.
His expectations include meeting some of the legends he grew up watching on television and, most importantly, being exposed to opportunities that will help Films Icon thrive in the global marketplace, he adds.
Films Icon was founded in 2021 with the goal of cinematic storytelling. The film company aims to be one of Africa’s leading producers and distributors of film and apparel.
“I would like to thank the NIPDB and Next Narrative Africa for this opportunity, which will showcase not only Films Icon but also Namibia’s film industry as a whole. We have stories to tell and we need more opportunities like this to showcase our work to a global audience,” says Jacky Pop.
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