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Malawian film nominated for FOA award

Peter Lungile Chidothi’s film We Are Able is among other African films shortlisted for the finals of the Nova Employment 2017 Focus On Ability (FOA) Short Film Awards of Australia.

Chidothi’s film is a documentary of two feature stories of Ellias Chem’bwana, a shoe maker at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) campus of Bunda. The second feature story is about Amin Labana, a head tailor at Lily Alfonso Studio.

Chidothi: I stand a chance to win

“Both these people are extraordinary as they have been working and depending on themselves for a considerable time. Chem’bwana has been working as a shoe repairer since 2004 while Labana has worked for over 20 years,” said Chidothi.

Chidothi’s film runs for four minutes and 45 seconds. The voting started on July 25 and closes today. If he wins, he will earn two return airfares to Australia to attend the FOA red-carpet awards on September 6. In addition, he will earn two weeks, accommodation at Rydges Sydney Central and $1 500 prize money.

“There is also a prize for the most online votes. If more Malawians vote for me, I stand a chance to win the Most Online Votes award,” he said.

Chief executive officer of Nova Employment, Martin Wren, said FOA gives people insight into how society’s attitudes are changing towards people with disabilities.

“Not just Australian society, but around the world. I don’t think you can fail to be impressed and inspired by taking 10 minutes to see a couple of FOA films,” said Wren.

Last year’s winners were from Uganda and Sri Lanka.

FOA Awards are designed to encourage filmmakers to focus on the ability of people with disabilities. n

 

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