March is Movie Month

Movies are the order of the month as the nation gears up for three film festivals, one awards show and whole lot of local film.

Dubbed the ‘The Month of Movies’ by screenwriter and director Marinda Stein, March is set to be a film filled affair with Cinemafest ushering in the drama at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre for one more session this evening.

Expounding on filmmaking in instant times, women in cinema and ending tonight under the theme of Art in Film, Cinemafest is a site of evaluation, synergy, education and inspiration hosted by RedHot Film Productions and Joe Vision Production in partnership with 99FM.

Next on the bill is the Namibian Theatre and Film Awards’ ‘7 Days of Namibian Movies’ which will take place from 11 to 17 March.

Inviting the public to have their say in awarding the Namibian Theatre and Film Awards’ Audience Choice accolade, the screening festival will take place at various, mostly open-air venues across the capital with the sum of its nominal entrance fees awarded to the crowd favourite.

Leaving Windhoek to head to Oshakati, Ongwediva and Ondangwa, the Month of Movies continues with the Oshana Film Festival.

Presented by AfricAvenir in its bid to bring arts and cultural events to every corner of the country, the Oshana Film Festival is the first of its kind and will take place from 17 to 21 March.

Continuing in its endeavours to expose Namibian audiences to African cinema, AfricAvenir’s Oshana Film Festival will feature films from Mozambique, Angola, South Africa, Cameroon and Egypt.

Audiences in the Oshana region can look forward to a Lusophone line-up including ‘The Train of Salt and Sugar’ and ‘Jogo de Corpo’ (Body Games), a special Mandume ya Ndemufayo centenary screening and panel discussion after ‘The Power Stone’ as well as an Independence Day viewing of Perivi Katjavivi’s ‘The Unseen’.

Other Namibian premieres include ‘Vaya’ by Akin Omotoso, Egypt’s ‘Sins of Flesh’, South Africa’s acclaimed ‘Noem My Skollie’ and Cameroonian director Jean-Pierre Bekolo’s subversive ‘The President’.

Ending off the cinematic schedule, a night of glamour.

Inviting all the nominees to a red carpet awards show at the National Theatre of Namibia, the Namibian Theatre and Film Awards will honour the last two years’ movie movers and shakers.

That’s the script and the film needs as many extras as it can get. So be a part of this month’s movie magic and attend the screenings, vote for the Namibian Theatre and Film Awards Audience Choice and tune into the broadcasts, tweet sessions and updates in a nationwide celebration of our cinema, our stories and our stars.