Deputy Minister urges enhancement of local film presence and values

Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity, and Culture, Owen Chomanika, has urged the creative industry in the country to diversify their approaches in showcasing local films. 

Despite an abundance of foreign films being broadcasted in the country, the absence of locally produced films in the entertainment landscape is creating a misleading impression of their total nonexistence.

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Chomanika made the appeal during the launch of the Malawi Film Festival in Lilongwe. 

He noted a seeming lack of enthusiasm among local television stations to broadcast locally produced films. 

“The film industry is a very good platform for telling our stories in the way we want them told. This is why I am appealing to the film industry in the country to explore multiple options of popularizing their work,” said Chomanika.

Addressing the management and valuation of the film industry, Chomanika expressed concerns about its current state. 

Anganile Nthakomwa, Deputy Director responsible for censorship in the Department of Arts, highlighted the consequences of the heavy presence of foreign films, stating that it leaves local cultural values vulnerable to erosion. 

“Because we have been watching foreign films, we have let our own culture get eroded as foreign culture got embodied into people’s daily lives,” said Nthakomwa.

Vice-President of the Film Association of Malawi, Ashukile Mwakisulu, acknowledged the significance of the film festival. 

Mwakisulu stated that the mere existence of the festival is a positive development as it exposes local talent to potential avenues for growth.