Fama brings back cinema culture
Filmmakers Association of Malawi (Fama) has launched Bring Back Cinema Culture campaign whose aim is to reclaim the lost glory of watching movies at Cinema houses.
In an interview, Fama president Gift Sukez Sukali said the campaign will also make local movies more accessible.
“Many Malawians have been complaining that local movies, once launched, are never accessible. This is because producers are wary of piracy. But with cinema nights every weekend, Malawians can access any local movie of their choice according to our schedule,” he said.
Sukali said so far, the programme, which is in its pilot phase, has started with Lilongwe and Blantyre.
“Last Saturday, we were at Latitude Hotel in Lilongwe where patrons enjoyed one of local movies All We Have is Us. This is just the beginning,” said Sukez.
The Fama president said the campaign is good for family entertainment as families can enjoy a movie night together in a friendly environment.
However, Sukez, bemoaned lack of equipment to enable the association stage the movie nights at low cost.
“Right now we are hiring and that makes everything a little more expensive. Once we have our own equipment, costs will go down and that will also trickle down to gate charges,” he said.
The filmmaker said he was happy that Malawians are slowly embracing the culture of cinema nights.
Said Sukali: “Our first movie night had less than 20 people, but on Saturday we had between 60 to 70 people. Once this is established, I am sure Malawians will be having a great time with their families, watching movies in a cinema style.”
Producer of the movie All We Have is Us, which was screened last Saturday, Ashukile Mwakisulu said the initiative by Fama will go a long way in helping movie makers.
“It is a great initiative by the Film Association of Malawi,” he said.
Other movies lined up for the Bring Back Cinema Culture are The Last Fishing Boat which will be screened at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre on October 29, Virginity Police to be screened at Glalle Garden in Lilongwe on October 29, Atsikana which will be screened at Jacaranda Cultural Centre in Blantyre on a date to be communicated later, among other movies.
