05 Apr 2022

Netflix/UNESCO African Folktales Reimagined film competition has recently announced the six finalists of the contest.

However Botswana’s filmaker Mphonyana Mokokwe who was shortlisted for top 21 did not make it to the final. In an interview, Mokokwe said despite failing to make it to the final, the competition has given her the experience she would treasure it forever.

Mokokwe reached top 21 for her Ntiti le Ntitietsane story, after they were invited to a Netflix workshop of ‘How to Pitch for Netflix.

Last year Netflix partnered with UNESCO to launch a short film competition which saw over 2 000 applications representing an array of retelling of some most loved Africa’s folk tales in a multitude of languages.

Mokokwe said the experience she got from the Netflix association Mokokwe has given her confidence and see herself as winner. “Being in the Netflix/UNESCO competition was everything, from meeting the other nominees and opening up to new ideas,” she noted. A first Motswana to experience Netflix, Mokokwe said being part of the competition has nurtured and branded her name as a filmaker. “I left a mark, and being on Netflix competition showed me that it is not entirely impossible to reach the sky.

You just need to trust the process and contribute to your dream little by little,” Mokokwe said. Having been mentored by some of the big names in the creative space from the Sub Sahara region such as Bongiwe Selane of South Africa, Nigeria’s Femi Odugbemi among others, Mokokwe said that validated her presence in the film industry.

 “I am fired up now to make more African stories and films that have the potential to change the world,” Mokokwe said. Advising her peers in the film industry, Mphonyana urged them to be consistent in productions and be hopeful about their content finding its intended destiny. Winners of the Netflix/UNESCO ‘African Folktales, Reimagined,’ from South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya and Mauritania each received about P250 000 plus a production budget of at least P750 000 to create short films through their respective local production companies and under the guidance of Netflix appointed supervising producer and industry mentors from across the continent.

The six films will be launched on Netflix service on September 2022. ends