22 Jun 2023

 Botswana will hold its first ever international film festival November.

With a population of more than two million people, the country’s film and television industry has potential to be among the country’s largest employers.

Speaking at a television and film industry workshop in Francistown on Sunday, in the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture, chief broadcasting officer, Mr Legae Digwaamaje said government was the largest employer but insufficient jobs for a growing youth population continued to be a concern.

With the upcoming film festival, he said each district would be required to produce two film productions which would be fully funded by the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture.

Mr Digwaamaje also stated that following the film festival, there would be a nationwide screening of the films and winners would participate at various international film festivals across the world. 

“The festival aims to position local film stories and brands at an advantage in order to create more business opportunities for international co-productions as well as to create sustainable youth employment,” stated Mr Digwaamaje.

He said many youths in were roaming the streets without jobs yet the industry was a good opportunity for them to create employment for themselves and others.

Mr Digwaamaje said the film industry value chain development was  critical since it involved many players.

“It has a continuous economic activity and can create employment not only for young people but employment in its entirety,” stated Mr Digwaamaje adding that the festival would also create a market access to international markets for Botswana film products.

From MYSC, Film Office, Mr Eric Paulo told participants that film festivals in their nature were a market place for film, television, digital, content distribution and co-production.

He said the parent ministry would establish the Botswana Film and Television Awards, to recognise individuals who had done well in terms production.

Mr Paulo indicated that since its inception in 2018 to date, the Film office had grown the film and television industry and received 168 full programmes series from across the country.

He stated that locally produced television films such as Thokolosi which were barred from airing because of stereotype, were still relevant. 

Participants welcomed the coming of the film festival and said that the film and television had been neglected despite being a very crucial sector in employment creation and economic growth.

Kgosi Pepukae Makambe of Monarch said Francistown had a rich history that could market the country internationally.

Supa Ngwao Museum’s director and curator, Mr Geoffrey Matheakgomo stated that Francistown had about 52 heritage sites that could be turned into tourism attraction areas, some of which included the airport hangar, Nyangabgwe Hill and Monarch Gold Mine. He said the first aviation accident in Botswana happened in Francistown in 1974, killing a Malawi national and two Batswana.

Senior gender officer, Mr Wright Mosojane said women participation in the film and television industry was low and encouraged women to join the industry in large numbers. The purpose of the workshop was to create awareness of the film and television industry, introduce the Film office to Batswana as well as identify film practitioners in various districts. Ends