Dikamawoko’s movie at US film festival
It came like a joke and nobody believed founder and director of Dikamawoko Arts, Tawonga Taddja Nkhonjera when he recently said, “My dream is to see Dikamawoko Arts movies competing at the international level.”
Call it a joke or dream but the reality is that the versatile artist is in the terraces he has been craving. His movie B’ella has been shortlisted for the 2013 Silicon Valley African Film Festival (Svaff) to be held in California in USA next month.
Breaking the news to On the Arts on Sunday, Nkhonjera could not hide his excitement, saying he feels honoured and motivated do more in movies.
The artist said he got official communication from the organisers last week Thursday informing him that B’ella passed the test.
“I am happy to inform the nation that B’ella has made it at Svaff. I believe it will also do well in the competition,” said Nkhonjera.
B’ella
was produced by Dikamawoko Arts in collaboration with boNGO Worldwide. The script was written by Nkhonjera while Shemu Joyah of Seasons of a Life, rendered his technical expertise.
Shot in Chadzunda area in Blantyre, the movie which casts students in classroom, tells the story of a courageous 17-year-old Malawian girl who wants to change the society by taking advantage of the relationships she has with her family and friends at home and at school.
It is a film that tells the real life and traditions in the Malawian society. It gives the picture of how people in Malawi and the continent behave.
Among the crucial issues tackled include bullying in school, young love, true friendship, search for individuality and identity, HIV and Aids stigma and discrimination, the beauty of some traditions in semi-rural areas and remnants of the rich culture that Malawi once had.
Main actors in the movie are Dikamawoko actors Vinjeru Kamanga and Chimwemwe Mkwezalamba. There is also Joyce Mhango-Chavula, Tonny Khoza, Hope Chisanu, Czech Republic citizen Tereza Mirovicova, Anne Muhapala and Nkhonjera.
Svaff is an international African movie competition that accepts entries from across the continent. According to the festival’s website, the festival will open on Friday October 11 at the Community School of Music and Arts (Csma) in California.
It strives to showcase productions by Africa’s seasoned and emerging filmmakers whose works reflect the true stories, hopes and dreams of Africa.
“Once again, the world’s high-tech capital will become the lens for experiencing the true stories, hopes and dreams of Africa,” a statement published on the website www.svaff.org reads in part.
Now in its third year, the annual weekend will showcase more than 30 films from over 15 African countries and expects to take audiences of all ages across the continent.
There will be a mixture of feature films, shorts and animations from Africa’s seasoned and emerging first-voice filmmakers.
The festival will be presented by Oriki Theatre in partnership with the Csma and the African Diaspora Network. The objective of the festival is to promote an understanding and appreciation of Africa and Africans through moving images.
As we went to press, the full list of the shortlisted movies was not yet posted on the website, but Nkhonjera said the list will be posted any day from this week.
Nkhonjera also revealed that they submitted two movies but, they are yet to know whether or not the movie The Designer directed by 16-year-old Chimwemwe Mkwezalamba has made it.
