Artist encourages women film-makers as ‘Momeya’ premieres

Namibian film-maker Ndakalako Shilongo’s latest film ‘Momeya’ was screened at the Goethe Institute on Tuesday.

The screening saw a large audience filling up seats, standing at the back of the hall and even sitting on the floor to catch a glimpse of the film.

Speaking to Desert Radio on Tuesday, Shilongo said the inspiration behind the film stemmed from her love for period films and the nostalgia associated with the stories told around the fire when she was a child.

“I’ve always been drawn to period films and I grew up sitting around the fire with my parents and cousins telling scary stories, so that has always stuck with me,” she said.

Shilongo highlighted finances as the most challenging aspect of making the film and said she had to call in favours when approaching actors as cast members.

She also noted the difficulty of the actors portraying emotion without using words in the no-dialogue film.

“That was something we all had to sit down, workshop and find out how exactly we would do this,” Shilongo said.

She encouraged women in the film industry to grab opportunities to ensure their stories are told.

“For a very long time, women have not been given the opportunity to sit around the tables where the big decisions were made. And if we are allowed in the room, we are told to sit in the corner. For me, it’s very important to include women in these conversations,” she said.

Set in a world inspired by mythical creatures and folklore, ‘Momeya’ stars Ute-Yan Smith as the village girl Letu, Bret Kamwi as Letu’s love interest Tala and Ebba Shambwila as the water goddess.

‘Momeya’ transports viewers to a time long past, where a vengeful water goddess, having been attacked by earthbound men, washes ashore. On land, she encounters a young girl who captures her attention.

As the story unfolds, it weaves a captivating narrative, as well as rich visual storytelling and mythical elements, alongside music composed by Sir Ray.

Speaking to The Namibian on Wednesday, Shilongo described the turnout for the screening as “overwhelming”.

“[It] was beautiful to see how Namibians came out in numbers to support this authentic Namibian story,” Shilongo said.

The response has since been heartwarming and a gratifying reminder that hard work pays through great results and praise, she added.

“The response from the audience is always amazing for me to hear. To watch them immerse themselves in the film and hear their interpretations of what the story felt like to them will never get old.”