There are only two days left before the first-ever Tala Namibia Online Film Festival closes on Wednesday.
The festival, which boasts over 91 Namibian-made films, opened on 12 May and is proudly presented by Tala Online Streaming, Namibia Film Commission and other stakeholders.
An array of films by well-known directors and producers like Philippe Talavera, who produced and edited ‘Kukuri’ and ‘Salute’; as well as Gustav Nuuyoma’s recently released ‘Briefcase’; ‘The White Line’; and Florian Schott’s ‘Baxu and the Giants’ are on display.
Schott called on Namibians to embrace and support local films, an industry that is on its knees and in dire need of financial boost and other necessities to keep it afloat, especially now during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“If you’re in Namibia go check out ‘Baxu and the Giants’, ‘Everything Happens for a Reason’ and many other great films at the Tala Namibia Film Festival and vote for your favourite film. Unfortunately, due to copyright reasons, ‘Katutura’ is not on but you can watch it now on YouTube,” tweeted Schott.
N$10 000 is up for grabs as an audience prize, while the most popular content will win N$30 000.
Deputy ICT minister Emma Theofelus said the Tala Namibia Online Film Festival comes at an opportune time when creative practitioners have struggled to exhibit and distribute their works due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
She added that Tala Online Streaming secured a commitment from the technical partner, Nuella TV, to consider the films entered for global distribution on their Nuella TV platform as an added benefit for participants.
“This festival showcase will undoubtedly create a necessary boost in additional marketing for Namibia as well as Namibian creative talent. In the Namibian context, through its long-term vision of becoming a monetising streaming platform, Tala Online Streaming will certainly assist in offering solutions to existing challenges or creating opportunities.
“We can be tremendously impactful in all our endeavours if we collaborate. Opportunely this reminds us that the fourth Industrial Revolution is upon us, that information and communication technologies are progressively changing the way we do things and it is up to us to step up to the challenge and all industries must adopt innovative ways to keep up with these ever-changing times,” Theofelus was quoted as saying in a statement.
- psiririka@nepc.com.na