Malawi’s film industry grows

The Africa Film Academy (AFA) says Malawi is the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) region’s pilot of how filmmaking can change a country.

The remarks follow news that over 400 youths have undergone a filmmaking course, Film in a Box.

“For us, Malawi is blazing the trail in as far as building a film industry is concerned. As we are planning of going into other Sadc countries like Mozambique, Zambia just to mention a few. Malawi will be used as the best example and what has happened here, will be reciprocated in the other countries,” said Rhoda Mandaza AFA Sadc head.

She mentioned a film academy as one of the benefits Malawi stands to win from its partnership with organisations such as AFA.

“We are going to establish a film academy in Blantyre soon. We have changed the venue due to lack of space for the academy and as such, it will be based at the Blantyre Cultural Centre,” she explained.

Mandaza added that as a means of setting into motion the Malawi film industry, all the movies to be produced at the ongoing Film in a Box training will be showcased.

“We are identifying places like cinemas where 10 movies that are going to be produced by the students will be showcased. At the same time, we are in talks with MBC TV so that they find space to show them to people, so that they appreciate the talent and skills acquired from the training,” she said.