Funding has always been a challenge for the film industry’s growth, and corporations reluctance to fund has stiffened the film industry.
The veteran film makers say producing a film is costly and that the Namibian Film Commission’s annual budget is not even close to the amount needed to produce one. Vickson Hangula, a Namibian veteran filmmaker, urged the private sector to re-consider investment in the industry as it has huge potential to tackle the unemployment rate in the country.
“South Africa and Nigeria are places where some corporations really invest in filmmaking, and we didn’t have that here the other night; even the DG of nbc mentioned it, and he kept harmaring on where they are. When you look at it today, it’s like three million dollars per year that are allocated to NFC. That is nothing; it cannot even be a budget for one feature film”.
“There is a lot that can be done to foster growth, but I just want to start here by saying that I think it is time the private sector gets involved. They make a provision every year for social corporate responsibility. I know in most cases they look at community projects, community development projects, but art is also part of community development.”
Hangula says he is not in the process of retiring soon and has been working undercover on projects soon to be released. The nbc-news found him working on a new script in collaboration with international organisations.
“We have already had international partners that we are working with; we will be making that announcement very soon. What you found me doing there is an immediate slate of three feature films for international consumption that we are working on. But I am not at liberty to give all the details now.”
Namibians are encouraged to tune in and support the filmmakers.
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