The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Malawi’s film and creative industries, with its envoy saying there are many untold local stories that deserve to reach wider audiences.
EU ambassador Daniel Aristi-Gaztelumendi said this during the opening night of the Euro Film Festival in Lilongwe, where Malawian and European films were screened as part of efforts to promote cultural exchange.
He said since inception, the festival provides a platform for people from both Malawi and Europe and of different cultures to connect through storytelling and learn from each other.
“This is about creating bridges. Through the movies that we bring, we try to open up Europe and Europeans to you in our diversity and through the movies you share with us, we come to better understand Malawian realities, your dreams and aspirations,” said Aristi-Gaztelumendi.
He said the EU will continue supporting cultural initiatives in Malawi, including the film festival.
“The Euro Film Festival has become a classic, so we will have another edition next year. We remain present in the culture and art space,” said Aristi-Gaztelumendi.
The ambassador also encouraged local filmmakers to draw inspiration from Malawi’s own experiences, saying the country has a wealth of stories that remain largely untold and deserve to be heard and seen.
“I think there are 1 000 incredible Malawian stories out there that deserve to be told. So, I can only encourage filmmakers in Malawi to tap into this treasure trove of Malawian realities, dreams, aspirations as they tell their stories,” he said.
Film Association of Malawi (Fama) president Dorothy Kingston said the festival has consistently been important for creating connections, promoting Malawi’s culture and exposing local filmmakers to different approaches to filmmaking.
“It’s high time we started promoting film. I’m calling for government, the private sector and foreign expatriates to do more, because the film industry can employ people,” said Kingston.
In addition, filmmaker Joyce Chavula said increased investment is critical to developing the local industry, which continues to face limited support and platforms for filmmakers to showcase their work.
She said investment will help strengthen opportunities for actors and technical crews as well as enabling filmmakers to preserve and promote Malawi’s identity through storytelling.
“Nobody is going to tell Malawian stories better than we can tell them. We have so many unrecorded stories that we have not told so I implore my fellow filmmakers to seize this opportunity to tell authentic Malawian stories,” she said.
One of the films screened was Banjo Boys, a documentary telling the story of Malawian duo Madalitso Band, their musical journey and how they met their European manager Neil Nayar.
After the opening, the festival continued with film screenings at the National Library in Lilongwe.
