29 May 2023

Officials from the European Union have vowed to support production of local film content for it to thrive and gain attention on the local and international stage.

Deputy Ambassador of European Union in Botswana, Silvia Bopp-Hamrouni revealed in an interview during the ongoing European Film Festival in Gaborone on Friday.

During the festival, four locally produced films were screened and Bopp-Hamrouni highlighted that there was space for growth and creativity for local content.

She stated that it was critical to develop strategies that would continuously support and motivate local producers to unleash their potential and strive for quality end products that would compete, hence the decision to include some locally produced film content in the film festival.

“Anything that receives necessary support always yields the desired results. It may take time for the expected results to sprout, but with patience, everything eventually falls in line,” she explained.

Aside from screening films, the European Union also organised workshops for certain local musicians to learn about strategies to advance their careers.

“The creative sector has the potential for self-empowerment and they can also benefit the country, therefore we should always find ways to equip those in the sector with means to keep them relevant and abreast,” said Bopp-Hamrouni.

This year’s film festival was held under the theme: Fights and Struggles and Bopp-Hamrouni said it was inspired by the Setswana proverb ‘Mabogo dinku a a thebana’.

She stated that this was to inspire people to join hands and assist one another in continuing to fight for a better future for all. “We should join hands and fight for activities that will enlighten, educate, and inspire us towards a common goal and vision to defy our struggles of a better future for all,” she stated.

 Locally produced films screened included An invisible omen: A notion of returning home, Cell 10, and Nazara. Nazara, directed by Tshegofatso Kgosimore is a true love story that is defied by Herero traditions and culture post-colonialism. Its narrative is about love, arranged marriage and racial discrimination.

Unaware that her family has arranged marriage for her to an eligible Herero prince, Nazara the Herero girl returned home after five years of study with her German fiancé and pleads with her family to bless their union.

Her expectations were rejected since her family had other plans and this brewed conflicts between Nazara and her family. The European Film Festival will also be extended to Maun in the first week of June. ENDS