MULTICHOICE Namibia on Wednesday officially launched the new phase name, ‘Ombura’ which means ‘rain’ or a new year in Otjiherero.
According to MultiChoice Namibia managing director Roger Gertze, ‘Ombura’ signifies more than just rain; it embodies the essence of a ‘year.’ “It’s not just a weather event; it’s a transformative cycle, a symbol of renewal and growth,’’ he explained. ‘Ombura’ will include eight projects, namely six feature films, one documentary and one lifestyle series each showcasing a unique and authentic perspective of Namibia, its culture, its people, and its way of life.
“MultiChoice Namibia believes in the power of enriching African lives, a philosophy rooted in the belief that fostering creativity contributes to a better world. Just as the rains represent hope and happiness for Namibians, we want this name ‘Ombura’ to reflect new hope in the next stage of our film project,’’ he said.
MultiChoice Namibia also announced the executive producers for this phase, as local production house Collective.com.na, who will work closely with the selected project teams, MultiChoice Namibia and kykNET to bring the concepts to life.
In this new phase, all productions will be made with a focus on Afrikaans and premiere on kykNET channels on DStv and GOtv as well as Showmax.
“MultiChoice Namibia is the biggest funder of local content – now producing content in our local languages with local actors and telling stories that resonate culturally. As Africa’s most loved storyteller, we anticipate sharing our unique stories at the end of the year and hope the results will equal a great contribution to the economic growth of the Namibian film industry which will continue to take Namibia to the world,” Gertze added.
“We’re very excited about this great opportunity for the Namibian film and video sector. We aim to support all stakeholders in the best interest of the project. Let’s make it rain,” said Tim Huebschle of the Collective team.
In 2022, MultiChoice Namibia embarked on a journey to provide uniquely local and inspiring Namibian content and empower Namibian creatives with the necessary skills to grow the creative industry. Thirteen films have since debuted on DStv, GOtv and Showmax under the banner ‘Namibia to the World’ and received overwhelmingly positive responses from Namibian and African audiences across the board.
Over the past few months, selected project teams have worked with industry experts through Masterclasses on scriptwriting, production, directing, sound, cinematography and many more, to ensure that we take Namibian stories to new heights, and to keep our audiences glued to their screens later this year.
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