By Irmi Schreiber
WINDHOEK
“Words alone cannot capture what I have learned”, says Zimiso Mcingolwane about her traineeship with the Wild Cinema Film Festival Trust 2007.
“Working with Wild Cinema was a wonderful experience”, she adds.
Zimiso was one of three media students who participated in the trainee programme of the Wild Cinema Windhoek International Film Festival 2007, helping organize the annual cultural event which took place from March 23 to April 1 this year.
As preparations for the 2008 Wild Cinema Windhoek International Film Festival are already in full swing, the organizing committee is once again looking for young and committed candidates who will join the dynamic Wild Cinema Team. As part of its capacity-building programme, the Wild Cinema Film Festival Trust (WCFF Trust) trains film and media students in all aspects of festival organization. The on-the-job training focuses on aspects like fund-raising, production management, programming, marketing and public relations. The initiative is sponsored by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida, for a period of two years (in the run-up to the festivals 2007 and 2008).
As previous internships with the WCFF Trust have proved, the traineeship is an excellent opportunity for young Namibians to become acquainted with stakeholders of the local film industry, gain experience in many fields of cultural work and, last but not least, leave their personal mark on an ultimately rewarding and successful annual event, the Windhoek International Film Festival.
“I really believes it opens doors for you, so I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything in the world”, says ex-trainee Oshosheni Hiveluah, who joined WCFF’s very first trainee programme in the run-up to the 2006 festival.
“I was exposed to a whole new world of media: film”, Zimiso Mcingolwane recaptures.
The 2008 trainee programme will start in September this year and will run for a period of eight months, including the festival month of April 2008 (Preliminary festival dates are April 4 to 13, 2008). Candidates will be expected to work two days per week at the WCFF office and will receive adequate remuneration.
Applications must be handed in by latest August 31, 2007.
The following is required. Applicants for the trainee programme must:
– be a Namibian citizen or a permanent resident in Namibia
– be a student or have completed studies at a higher educational institution
– be computer literate in Word, Excel, Outlook Express and Internet Explorer
– have a good command of English and excellent communication skills
– have common knowledge of films
– have background knowledge of the local film industry
– be acquainted with the Wild Cinema Windhoek International Film Festival (www.wildcinema.org)
– be available two days per week (preferably Tuesdays and Fridays) from September 2007 until April 2008 except Christmas and New Year.
For the festival month of April 2008, trainees will be on duty on a daily basis.
Please submit a detailed CV accompanied by a letter of motivation and proof of studies by fax or e-mail to the Wild Cinema Film Festival Trust by latest August 31, 2007:
Wild Cinema Film Festival Trust
Tel / Fax: 061-25-9914
8 Pettenkofer Street, Windhoek West
Contact Person: Irmgard Schreiber
Cell: 081-258-0141
E-Mail: info@wildcinema.org