Local filmmaker Nahenda Matheus believes that one obstacle to the boom of the Namibian film industry is the lack of access to production. 

Based on her research, potential filmmakers do not know where and how to access the material.

The multi-media journalist said that based on enquiries through TikTok, people said they do not know where to find local films.

 They are often absent from the popular streaming platforms they use.

“In a digital age, convenience and accessibility is key. Platforms like Netflix, Showmax and YouTube are where most people get their entertainment. Without local content being readily available on these platforms, Namibians have little chance of discovering homegrown films,” she stated.

She said another important point raised by viewers is the lack of effective marketing for Namibian films. 

“Many respondents stated that they often don’t even know when a Namibian movie is being released, or where it can be watched. Without a strong marketing push, even the best local films can slip under the radar,” said Matheus.

She pointed out that Namibians have a unique opportunity to support and grow the creative industries.

“When local movies are released, we need to make efforts to watch them. Share your thoughts on social media, write reviews, and encourage others to do the same. The more we talk about our films, the more others will be inclined to check them out,” she shared.

She said that in the end, the future of Namibian cinema lies in the hands of both filmmakers and audiences. 

“It’s about creating the content, sharing it with the world, and making sure it’s easily accessible. By working together, we can ensure that Namibian stories are seen, celebrated and appreciated both at home and internationally,” she stated.

Fellow filmmaker and actress Tjuna Kauapirura-Daringo said one of the reasons why Namibians do not consume much of their content is because there is not much content available to support, “especially if one looks at not just the quality of the films, but the storylines and content that they can relate to”.

“There’s a lot that is required to create a cinema culture or film culture, as well as local consumption culture. So, there must be a sort of content that relates to an average Namibian. There is a lot of investment required for that, and there are some blockages and bottlenecks that are prohibiting Namibians from producing that type of content. This can be from policy to funding to professionalising the industry,” she sternly stated.

Daringo, who also serves as the vice chairperson of the Namibia Filmmakers Association, hinted that there are a lot of things that are required from the industry to be in place because of eager filmmakers who can tell many great stories, but do not have the capacity.

“The capacity doesn’t necessarily mean financial, but it is also in training. You need training, upskilling, and then maybe after you’ve done that, you can produce content that can also be looked at by Netflix and similar platforms,” she said.

She said it is going to be so difficult, considering the market constraints and lack of capacity in the country. 

Daringo said once the industry is formalised, there will be collaboration treaties with countries like South Africa.

“I think maybe that might give us hope. I believe that these are some of, you know, the priorities from the filmmakers’ association,” she said.

-psiririka@nepc.com.na