By Dudley Viall
WINDHOEK
The Filmmakers Association of Namibia held their Annual General Meeting at the end of June this year, and elected a new board for the next three-year tenure.
FAN board members held talks with the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Ntembu Nandi-Naidtwah, on July 30 who outlined FAN’s current position as follows:
As an organization, FAN went through challenges from its inception in a quest to find its feet. Some of these challenges include its lobbying capacity and capabilities especially among decision-makers and the poor image it receives through negative publicity. As a result, members of FAN have become increasingly frustrated by the lack of activity and visibility of the association, and have subsequently lost faith in its premise.
The new board believes this situation can be turned around. Already we have held numerous board meetings to outline our vision for the industry. Board members have wasted no time in their recruitment drive, as well as introducing themselves to the film community at large. The full board travelled to Walvis Bay a week after taking office to meet with coastal filmmakers and to recruit new members and continue to drive this initiative.
We strongly believe that FAN has a crucial role to play in this rapidly-growing film industry. While foreign film companies are becoming ever more aware of the vast potential Namibia has to offer as a filming destination, we believe it is even more important to develop a local film industry.
Television and film creates a mirror of contemporary life. It serves as a window on the world. Television sets trends, keeps people abreast of worldly developments, and entertains. But, more importantly, it builds national pride, which is ultimately seen as a product of good governance.
People identify strongly with television, but a great deal more needs to be done before we can attain this goal. For filmmakers, it is a medium of enquiry and self-expression.
Our vision therefore is to help create the development and to nurture the growth of a viable film industry in Namibia that will not only become world-renowned but will contribute significantly to the national economy and growth of our country.
In order for us to arrive at this vision, we have set ourselves specific objectives and goals which include:
– the creation of linkages with government and the private sector;
– the continuous lobbying and advocacy role towards the improvement of conditions of filmmakers and practitioners in Namibia;
– the recognition of local talent, creativities and support services, and the professionalizing thereof;
– taking television’s role in the development of the industry as critical success factor;
– the creation of a member-driven fund for culture and storytelling;
– attracting and marketing NAMIBIA to other filmmaking nations of the world through incentive strategies.
We firmly believe we have a wealth of talent within this country and that Namibia can eventually find its place on the international stage. This can only happen with the support and cooperation of Government.
It is very encouraging to note that the plight of local filmmakers has not gone unnoticed by the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, as was made apparent at the consultative conference held in Windhoek last year.
However, recognition of the role of local filmmakers needs to reach a much wider audience, to include the private sector.
FAN must become more visible and active. It is very important that the association has a headquarters and a functional office. Equally important in creating visibility will be to showcase films made by Namibians, for Namibians. This is important in building national pride and identity.
It is only when local filmmakers can showcase their work that the public, as well as Government and the private sector, will see genuine activity and growth from the local industry.
FAN recognizes the importance of training Namibians in the film industry so that they can find themselves at a more advanced level of competency and work with confidence on not only foreign productions, but local ones too.
We are aware of the revenue that foreign films brings into a country and the potential for job creation. If one considers that the international film industry contributes an astonishing R3.5-billion to South Africa’s GDP, and employs around 10??????’??