Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) just announced six screenings of locally produced film Kapana around World Aids Day with the screenings coinciding with the exciting news that the film has started tour festivals.
Director and producer of Kapana, Phillipe Talavera said all festivals are online, sadly, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

 “The commencement of the festivals is an opportunity to showcase our work and receive feedback,” he stated.
 Shot in Windhoek, the film is a representation of inclusivity, incorporating one of the kapana vendors Simon Hanga as one of its characters (Simeon) with Talavera saying the kapana market is the perfect setting of the film, as it plays a major role.
 Written by award-winner Senga Brockenhoff and Mikiros Garoes, Kapana is a positive Namibian love story, enlightening locals and film lovers across the world that love does exist and can be found in the most unexpected places. 
Talavera said: “Let us just say that (Kapana) looks at one of the many love stories that happen or could happen in Namibia. It follows two characters who have little in common and against all odds fell in love. Like any love story, it has its romantic moments and its drama.”

 The film which aims to raise awareness on social issues like HIV/AIDS was also selected for the 12th Annual Fargo-Moorhead LGBT Film Festival and at one of the leading LGBT film festivals in the United States ‘Out on film’.
“These nominations prove that the movie is of good quality and that the cast and crew did a marvellous job on the movie,” said Talavera.

Talavera further added that Kapana will encourage people to start to talk positively about changes that need to happen at legislation level.
 “It’s important to me that people realise all over the world that in Namibia we also have gays and lesbians and they also deserve to have a happy life and to live and love who they want to love. That’s a good, positive image that we can give about Namibia, which I hope will have positive repercussions at a national level,” he explained.
 The LGBTQ-themed film follows a love story between an insurance broker and meat (kapana) vendor and it explores themes of love, secrecy, fears, and commitment. 

The lead actors are multi-award winning performer Adriano Visagie; award-winning actress Mikiros Garoes; ‘Third Will’ actors Foreversun Haiduwah and Albertina Hainane; Jeremiah Jeremiah from the movie ‘Salute’; newcomers Simon Hanga, Chanwrill Vries and Lukas Paulus, as well as veteran actors Felicity Celento, Elize de Wee and Dawie Engelbrecht.

 The 60- minute long flick was screened at Maerua Mall this week and second screening is in December at Grove Mall on 4, 5 and 8 December 2020 with all screenings starting at 18h00 with strict rules and regulations pertaining to Covid-19 to be followed.

Today, Maerua Mall is organising a special meet and greet screening: If you have your ticket for any of the shows happening at Maerua Mall, you are welcome to head there at 17h00, meet the director and cast members.
Talavera has directed movies such as Salute, Kukuri, Pap and Milk, and Stinky Boy
 – psiririka@nepc.com.na