‘Govt committed to promoting film industry’

Minister of Youth, Sports Development and Culture Grace Chiumia said government is committed to helping the cultural and creative industry to grow.

Chiumia said this at Dorvic Hotel in Blantyre yesterday during the official opening of the first roundtable conference on building a viable and sustainable film industry in Malawi.

“There is potential in film and creative industry at large. You can bear witness with me that Nigerians have a vibrant film industry and what can stop us from making it?” questioned Chiumia.

She added that since one of the priorities of the DPP administration is to create employment, the film industry has seen a lot of potential job creation in the industry that is why they are committed to ensuring that it grows.

The minister thanked Unesco for the support they render to creative and cultural industries such as the International Fund for Cultural Diversity which supported the roundtable discussion.

President of Filmmakers Association of Malawi (Fama), Ezaius Mkandawire said they are grateful for the support that Unesco offers to the association and called more help from other organizations.

“We are calling for people that have the skills and requirements in filmmaking to come and register with the association to make sure they reap the fruits of this fund,” said Mkandawire.

The organisation gives the financial assistants to registered members only because they would like to be accountable and transparent in their business.

Executive Secreatary of Malawi National Commission for Unesco Francis Mkandawire said that the main problem they are facing in the administration of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity is that most entities who are prospective beneficiaries are not registered to associations.

He also mentioned that there is need for schools to teach different creative skills such as film.