Namibian creatives Denzel Eiseb, Othillia Mungoba and Mark Mushiva were officially announced as beneficiaries of the Goethe Stage 2021 short films project last week.
Goethe Stage Short Films is a collaboration between the Goethe-Institut Namibia, Namibia Film Commission and Pegasus Entertainment Productions.
From over 50 applications, the three filmmakers/screenwriters emerged successfully after extensive deliberation by an independent panel of judges.
Eiseb was selected for his short film, ‘Hard choice’, a narrative about a struggling officer who was entangled in a bribery saga.
Mungoba was selected for her documentary, titled ‘Currency of scrap’, a story about unemployment and recycling aspects in Namibia, while Mushiva made it through to the beneficiaries list for his short film, ‘Grootman’.
In a brief chat with VIBEZ!, Mungoba, who is one of the creative geniuses in the land, said she has always been keen on creating content and capturing the essence of Namibian stories.
“I am super excited to be one of the beneficiaries and to tell our own stories and create a solid reminder of how excellent we are as storytellers,” she said.
Mushiva, a creative technologist and hip-hop enthusiast, said as a storyteller, the film is naturally the next medium he will explore.
“I am just happy that someone believes my story is a story worth telling and I just hope that they can respect my creative rhythm,” he said.
According to Mushiva, ‘Grootman’ tells a story about the reality of post-apartheid in Southern Africa. The three films are expected to be premiered later this year.
Apart from producing their short films in Windhoek, with financial and professional assistance, the three beneficiaries will be part of a larger group of participants in a series of workshops that cover a range of kills relevant to the film production industry.Known for promoting cultural engagement by fostering dialogue through the arts, the institute has funded over 20 projects since 2017, which manifested various exhibitions, plays and workshops.
– ashikololo@nepc.com.na