Namibian arts and culture gets funding for film development, promotion

THE Namibia Film Commission (NFC) secretariat has received N$6 million for the Namibian Film Development Fund, information minister Peya Mushelenga announced recently, while the arts ministry has allocated N$39 million for the promotion of arts and culture.

Mushelenga said the NFC, under the Namibia Film Development Fund, must continue promoting Namibia as a preferred film destination internationally while also developing the local film industry.

“Once fully developed, this industry has the potential to create hundreds of jobs for our youth, and much-needed income for our service providers. During the 2023/2024 financial year, the ministry will roll out a marketing strategy to attract productions from Asia and also to appoint a film champion for Namibia to further propel our competitiveness locally and internationally,” he said.

Namibia has been ranked among the top five countries in Africa selected as a prime location for blockbuster movies.

In 2021, the country serviced 89 foreign film productions worth N$74 million, despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mushelenga also expressed satisfaction with the introduction of the bursary and innovation scheme by the NFC earlier this year, which has benefitted several young Namibians with the aim to ensure the industry invests in specialised skills to evolve with the changing times and trends.

“This year will also see the implementation of the NFC’s online services, for a speedy and professional service. Local content creation and capacity building of creatives in the film space remain key and will be achieved through a robust stakeholder engagement that involves multiple stakeholders in our society.”

During a recent interview, NFC executive secretary Florence Haifene said gone are the days when black Namibians would only make it as the doorman, the driver, and the maid in a film.

She said since independence Namibians have taken control of the narrative.

It is heart-warming to see the youth and future generations telling their stories without having to depend on anyone else to do it for them, she said.

Meanwhile, education minister Anna Nghipondoka during her budget speech last week said the ministry is committed to strengthening the arts, culture and creative industries, to unlock their potential for sustainable development and lifelong learning.

“Arts and cultural public enterprises and organisations will receive a total of N$39 million for the National Arts Council of Namibia, National Theatre of Namibia, National Arts Gallery of Namibia, Museums Association of Namibia, Heritage Council of Namibia, National Library Information Council and the Pan-African Centre of Namibia.

“Through these institutions, programmes and activities will be conducted to market and promote Namibian cultural heritage and arts in its diverse form,” she said.

Nghipondoka said the ministry will use its budget to create a conducive environment for the cultural and creative industries and to improve the situation at the College of the Arts (Cota).

“The aim is to improve service delivery at public arts and culture institutions, in particular the ministry’s only existing public arts training institution, Cota, which has been through a trying few years.

“The necessary efforts are being instituted to improve and restore the college’s diminishing image and reputation,” she said.

The ministry will provide annual practical training workshops across the country to improve the teaching of the arts, and an amount of N$569 921 was allocated for community and school arts activities across the country, she said.

The arts ministry also allocated N$755 000 to support culture clubs at schools and to initiate other programmes in the regional offices, to safeguard and share traditional knowledge from elders with younger generations.
– unWrap.online