The annual European Union Film Festival returns to Windhoek this month with a focus on bridging the gap between European and Namibian cinema.
Running from 20 October to 19 November, the festival will host weekly screenings every Tuesday and Thursday evening at the Goethe-Institut Namibia.
Organisers have invited members of the public to arrive from 18h00 to enjoy complimentary cocktails and refreshments before the film starts at 19h00.
This year’s showcase brings together eight European Union (EU) member states – Finland, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Estonia, and Poland.
Ireland, holding the current EU Council presidency, opens the event with the feature film ‘Mrs Robinson’.
Addressing the value of the local screen sector, EU representative Alex Baron emphasises that the film industry serves as a crucial driver of national growth and cultural representation.
“Firstly, it shapes our national identity because the stories we create are the ones that are made from home,” Baron says.
“That voice is very important, especially not just nationally, but also globally, because it defines who we are. It attracts people to come and see what Namibia is about because we are the ones that give a picture of what Namibia looks like. So the more our stories go out there, the more they travel, the more we also bring people into the country.”
Baron adds that the industry remains a key engine for employment creation across the country.
“If you think about it, the film industry is one of the industries that actually employs more people. On one production, you get a lot of people coming to work on just one project. So we get a lot of people employed, and that is how we contribute to the industry,” Baron notes.
Beyond the main festival venue, the event will reach wider audiences across the capital. A dedicated children’s screening is scheduled for 6 November, followed by community screenings at the Hisa Centre on 24 November and the College of the Arts Katutura campus on 26 November.
Film director Tekla Nehale has confirmed that the programme includes dedicated animated films for children, encouraging families and moviegoers to arrive early to secure seats and enjoy treats before the curtain rises.
The festival also incorporates a technical capacity-building leg. From 9 to 13 November, the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre will host a five-day industry training programme focusing on cinematic sound design and co-production.
The workshop is developed alongside the Namibia Film Commission and Estonia’s Baltic Film, Media and Arts School at Tallinn University.
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