Two movies produced and directed by MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) Southern Africa Academy graduate Beatus Msamange have earned nominations in the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCA).
Mananga, which Msamange produced and Rivals in Time which he directed, have been nominated in the Best MTF Movie category alongside six other films from the MTF East Africa and West Africa Academies.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Msamange said he is thrilled to be part of the production of the films and hopes to bring the awards home. He said he personally feels proud for the contribution he made in the production of the movies.
“I played crucial and tasking roles in both films. It was not easy, but reaching this point is just a testament to the collaborative spirit that we carried throughout the production,” he said.
The production team comprise 20 storytellers from Malawi, Zambia, Angola, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. As part of their final examinations, they were supposed to produce three films; two feature films and one short movie.
Each of the students took part in the production while playing different roles. The movies are up for public voting until April 14.
Rivals in Time centres on Reverend Chanda, a charismatic man in his 50’s who takes over a local church and instantly becomes the centre of attention. Among his admirers are two best friends Lesedi and Mwila who have stood for each other for decades.
Initially, their flirtatious attempts to capture the reverend’s attention seem harmless, but as the competition escalates, their rivalry turns bitter.
Mananga is a story about investigator Emily Kabwe. After the death of her husband, she pre-occupies herself with work to numb her grief. Although pregnant at the time, Kabwe was determined to crack down a string of cases involving the missing of new-born babies.
Despite warnings to back down, she refuses. Her pursuit only gets horrifying when her own baby is pronounced dead at birth.
Msamange said although the voter-based awards slightly tilt the competition in West Africa’s favour because of their numbers, he believes that if they could get people to vote, then they stand a better chance of winning.
MultiChoice Malawi corporate affairs manager Deborah Matowe-Mzembe said the recognition that Msamange and Malawian alumni receive highlights the increasing skill and recognition of Malawian filmmakers on the international stage.
“It shows that Malawians are capable of producing compelling and high-quality content. It also means that Malawian film creators are being recognised,” she said.
