The Last Fishing Boat screening excites lead actress
Lead actress in Shemu Joyah’s movie The Last Fishing Boat, Flora Suya, has expressed her excitement that the movie will premiere at two international film festivals before it is launched in Malawi.
Suya disclosed this in an interview following news that Joyah’s First Dawn Arts latest film has been selected for screening at the Kenya International Film Festival currently underway in Nairobi, Kenya, and the Verona African Film Festival from 16 to 25 November in Verona, Italy.
This is Joyah’s second movie in the past three years.
The Last Fishing Boat explores the collision between African traditional culture and modernisation, and its impact on a simple Malawian family caught in the middle.
Suya said she is excited by the premiere because it is beneficial both to her and Malawi.
“It is a bold step taken by Malawi’s film industry to be part of such festivals. People from other parts of the world will appreciate Malawi’s talent which is still in its infancy due to lack of resources and support. But I am sure if we can have just three people who are very passionate about the film industry like Joyah, things will definitely improve,†said the soft-spoken Suya.
“I must say that I was not surprised when I heard from Joyah saying that The Last Fishing Boat will be screened at international festivals because the man is a genius, a star of his own.
“Again, the development will benefit the country in the 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,†she said.
“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,†she added.
Due to the two festivals, First Dawn Arts will now premiere the film in Malawi on a date to be announced later.
