By Moses Nyirenda
Lilongwe, September 12, Mana: Focus on Ability Society (FOAS) says will host its 8th film festival dubbed ‘Focus on Ability Short Film Festival’ at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe on September 22, 2024.
This comes after the organization has been conducting similar festivals for the past seven years in Blantyre district.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Wednesday, FOAS Executive Director, MacDonald Nyirenda, confirmed the development saying the upcoming event will feature awards and film screening among other activities.
“We are going to award four winners; that is to say one best film, one best documentary, two best persons with ability who are people with disability.
“We will also screen some top films including a documentary by Australian High Commission and will also have performances by school children with disability from different schools and organizations in Lilongwe,” Nyirenda said.
He added that, uniquely they have also invited the St John of God professionals that will provide mental health talks and counseling during the short film festival.
FOAS adopted the short film festival in 2017 in which filmmakers from Malawi submit their short films and documentaries showcasing abilities and achievements of people with disability in Malawi.
Through online voting and judges, choice filmmakers and people with disability featured in the films win prize money ranging from US$250 (about K400,000) to US$500 (about K800,000) at national level and US$5,000 (about K8 million) at international level.
According to Nyirenda, with the festival, his organization intends to promote inclusivity in communities in the country.
“We want to achieve an inclusive society where people with disability are included in community and national development,” he said.
He urged the public to patronize the free short film festival in their large numbers and also appealed to well-wishers including government for support towards the film festival.
“We are inviting the public to reserve their seats to attend this free entry and lunch event to get inspired by the amazing abilities of people with disability,” he explained.
One of the Lilongwe based filmmakers, Philmon Kuipa, commended FOAS for deciding to host its short film festival in Lilongwe saying this will help filmmakers from central region to easily patronize the festival.
FOAS has organized the festival with support from NOVA Employment and the Australian High Commission in Harare.
