Nico Holdings gives K10m for Highbrow movie premiere

Nico Holdings plc has announced a K10 million sponsorship meant to be used for premiering of a local movie Highbrow in Lilongwe and Blantyre.

Making the announcement in Blantyre yesterday, Nico Holdings plc head of marketing and customer experience Lorraine Phiri said they decided to sponsor the movie premieres as a way of promoting the  movie industry.

“As a local company, we believe in promoting the local arts industry and there is no better way than supporting the growing film industry,” she said.

Phiri said oftentimes, the corporate world overlooks the movie industry, yet a closer look will reveals that the sector is a potential source of employment for many Malawians if well supported.

“We have a lot of talent in Malawi, but all that is needed is support and opportunities,” she said, adding that Nico Holdings plc hopes this support will motivate and inspire artists in Malawi.

On her part, Siphiwe Lino, one of the lead actors in the movie, said it is motivating to see local companies believing and supporting the local movie industry.

“It has been a long road for us as we encountered several challenges along the way. Covid-19 happened and so many problems resulted, but we are happy that we are here,” she said.

According to Lino, the movie is a thrilling story about Malawi’s cashgate scandal that rocked Capital Hill in 2013 as well as other themes such as romance.

Highbrow is a political satire mirroring the events of the infamous Cashgate scandal that rocked the Malawi civil service around 2013 and skirts around  several themes chief of which is corruption, State capture and power play among the nation in which it is set.

The movie, which was already premiered in the United States, will be premiered in Lilongwe on September 24 at Bingu International Convention Centre before coming to Blantyre on September 25 at Icon Movie Theatre at Chichiri Shopping Centre.