Chimwemwe tackles movie directing at 16

Ambitious, courageous and versatile are the words that best describes Chimwemwe Mkwezalamba who at only 16 has directed a movie, The Designer.

It is her first time, but her confidence and the quality exposed in the movie; it won’t be an error to predict success in her movie career.

She aims high, “this is the beginning, I have plans for more movies in future. The Designer is my flag—launching my identity in the movie industry,” she said in an interview.

Boasting of the directing knowledge gained during the Africa Film Academy (AFA) trainings and acting skills when she featured in the movie B’ella, Mkwezalamba is confident that her movie will register success. She said she has applied to submit the movie to the 2013 Silicon Valley African Film Festival to be held in San Francisco in USA next month.

“The Designer has been enrolled for the festival and I am optimistic that it will do well. I have taken my time and consulted with different people in the movie industry and with support from Tawonga Taddja Nkhonjera and Manota Mphande, I have no doubts that it will make a mark at the festival,” she said.

According to Mkwezalamba, The Designer is about dilemmas in love. She said it is about a designer who was in love with a man and for some reasons they broke up. They meet again when her ex boyfriend’s fiancé unknowingly consults her for her wedding dress design. What follows is drama and real life action. Running for 32 minutes, the movie features Vinjeru Kamanga, Simunye Nyamali, musician Rina, Brighton Pasanje and G.D Rayan.

The second year banking and finance student at Blantyre International University (BIU) says she is refining some scenes and expects the movie to be ready in two weeks time.

Mphande whose firm Flip Recruitment is sponsoring the movie, said he is inspired by the talent and the directing skills exposed by the teenager.

“Thanks to President Joyce Banda for supporting us in training film makers. We will continue supporting the film industry and our office will make sure artists are well trained and are supported when need arises. We will make sure The Designer participates at the upcoming festival,” he said.

Nkhonjera, who is the editor of the movie’s script ,said girl-child empowerment is Dikamawoko’s mission and Mkwezalamba is their pride. He added that they will unveil more talented girls in the near future.