Malawi’s movie goes international

Shemu Joyah’s yet-to-be premiered The Last Fishing Boat will be screened at two international festivals.

“First Dawn Arts would wish to announce that their new film, The Last Fishing Boat, has been selected for screening in competition at the Kenya International Film Festival which will take place from 24 October to 3 November 2012 in Nairobi, Kenya, and the Verona African Film Festival from 16 November to 25 November 2012 in Verona, Italy,” said Joyah in an interview.

The Kenyan film festival will screen 300 films from 40 countries, among them more than 10 premiers which include Joyah’s Last Fishing Boat.

Joyah said it is a very good development considering that other than showcasing Malawi’s acting and directing talent, the film industry will get to know more about the country’s tourist sites such as Lake Malawi which was one of the scenes for shooting of the movie.

According to Joyah, “due to these festival screenings, First Dawn Arts will now premier the film in Malawi on a date to be announced later.”

The Last Fishing Boat, Joyah’s second movie in the past three years, explores the collision between African traditional culture and modernisation, and its impact on a simple Malawian family.

“It is the director’s belief that the film will greatly help the wider world understand some of the cultural beliefs of Malawi and also share with the world the visual beauty of one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Most of all, The Last Fishing Boat is a film that is meant to entertain as the story is full of humour, tension and suspense,” he said.

“It is about the interaction between a fishing village along the lake and a couple of tourists. We shot the movie in Mangochi, the main location being Mpemba Village and the beach. We also shot at Nkopola Lodge and Maldeco. It is not an action movie but rather a captivating drama about the changing fortunes of a fishing village in an ever-changing world and I am sure people will love it,” added Joyah.

First Dawn Arts’ first film, Seasons of a Life, was also screened at these festivals and won the Special Schools Prize in Verona in 2009.