Local Fim Producers Asked To Promote Local Languages

The Malawi Government has urged Local film producers to make high quality movies which promote local language and culture.

 

Maluwaya

McDonald Maluwaya, the Chief Arts Officer in the Ministry of Sports and Culture made the remarks following the recent launch of local film, Mwayi Wotsiriza by Theatre International.

While expressing government commitment to continue with number of programs that promote the film industry in the country, Maluwaya emphasized that local film industry must promote local language which is essential in making easy communication with people in the rural areas.

The Chief Arts Officer in the Ministry of Sports and Culture McDonald Maluwaya, emphasized that local languages have to be used in local movies in promoting and preserving languages and culture as well as to disseminate messages.

He indicated that through this, artistic industry can take Malawi culture and languages to international community.

His reaction came following last Friday’s premiering of a local movie ‘Mwayi Wotsiriza’ by Theatre International, performed in Chichewa but has English and French subtitles.

Mwayi Wotsiriza is a film about sexual abuse of girls and working conditions of teachers in rural primary schools.

The Chief Arts Officer also pledged government efforts in ending challenges that the film industry is facing in the country such as lack of formalized markets, growing rates of piracy, high costs of producing movie and also technical expertise.

“It is against this background that government is currently financing an integrated arts development programme being implemented by the copyright society of Malawi COSOMA and the Department of Culture to ease, some of these challenges existing in the creative industries.” said Maluwaya

Maluwaya added that the programme among others involve four main projects which are establishment of Art School, Aluso Savings and Credit Cooperative, Aluso Production and Marketing Cooperative and the National Arts and Heritage council.

“So this is a good news for in the creative industry. I would therefore like to ask the Producers of Mwayi Wotsiriza to explore how they can benefit from this provision of the Integrated Arts Development Programme to promote the film industry” He said

He then mentioned that in due course government will launch and implement the National Cultural Policy following the Cabinet approval of in February. He said the policy provides that there be a National Arts and Heritage Council established.