Filmmakers Association of Malawi (Fama) and the management of Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre yesterday unveiled a year-long cinema partnership.
As part of the partnership, local filmmakers will be showcasing their productions during monthly cinema sessions which will be hosted at the five-star hospitality facility. The hotel will also host film-centred workshops and training sessions.
Speaking during the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU), Fama president Gift ‘Sukez’ Sukali said when his administration was elected, it made it a priority to first create a platform where Malawian filmmakers can showcase their productions.
“We appreciate the limitations that most local film creators face. After producing a film, there are some who cannot come and do a premiere here. This is their opportunity to have their productions screened at such a platform,” he said.
The MoU is initially for a year, but it is open to renewal.
Meanwhile, the Fama president has appealed to other companies to come forward and help Malawian filmmakers so that they can tell the Malawian story better.
Amaryllis Hotel sales and marketing manager Khaira Surtee said their partnership aims at promoting the local film industry by giving space to up-and-coming filmmakers to come together and deliberate on challenges they face on their way up.
He said: “Experience has shown that most don’t have the ideal space to come together and explore how they can effectively impart the narrative.
“And during the two years that we have been around, we have attracted a lot of international guests and our idea is to expose our guests to this local creative content during their stay here.” Recently, Fama also announced a similar partnership with the management of Latitude 13 Hotel in Lilongwe.
