Film Association of Malawi (Fama) has partnered Cape Maclear International Film Festival to boost the visibility of local actors and actresses to promote the film industry.
The initiative, known as the Movie Industry Spotlight Series, seeks to provide a digital platform to raise the profiles of people working in the film industry.
Fama president Dorothy Kingston in an interview said the idea is not just to celebrate talent, but to create opportunities for industry players.
She said the partnership will boost the industry by ensuring that actors are recognised by many.
“Actors and actresses will now have the chance to showcase what they can do to the world. This can lead to more acting jobs, brand partnerships and many other opportunities. We are working hard to create such platforms and this is just one of many,” said Kingston.
She stressed the importance of partnerships in growing the film industry.
Cape Maclear International Film Festival, which is under the Urban Music People (UMP) Festival, is now in its second edition and the partnership will see local movie screenings at the festival in Mangochi.
In a separate interview, UMP chief executive officer Aisha De Silva said it is time the creative industry, including the local film industry, is taken to another level.
“At UMP, we’ve seen musicians benefit from exposure through our events. Now we want to do the same for the film industry. Through our festival, we receive international audiences, and we want them to recognise our film talent too,” she said.
De Silva said the move also aims to serve as a reminder that acting is more than just fun, but that young people can aspire to pursue.
“We want more parents to encourage their children to pursue acting and for communities to support film. The profiles we compile can help change mindsets,” she said.
Actor Sophie Mponda said the initiative is important because most local artists lack platforms that promote and recognise their work.
“As artists, we don’t have many platforms that help us grow or showcase our talent to a wider audience. This is a good step because it gives us hope that people will start seeing acting as something serious,” she said.
The Cape Maclear Festival will take place at Cape Maclear in Mangochi during the UMP festival from October 21 to 27. The event will feature film screenings and awards and will provide a platform for actors to showcase talent and connect with industry players.
