Local filmmakers to get FNBB lion’s share
Local filmmakers will get the biggest share of the pie after FNBB in partnership with FNBB Foundation announced that they would sponsor three short documentaries at P100, 000 each.
The money, which makes P300, 000 in total, is part of FNBB’s P1.5 million contribution to COVID-19 relief in support of the performing arts and creative industry. The rest of the money is distributed among other creative sectors like music, fine arts, literary arts, dance, comedy, photography, online music shows and fashion.
This comes after FNBB made a nationwide call for creative arts submissions under the Bodiragatsi Jwame, Lentswe Lame initiative aimed at supporting creative arts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local filmmakers are required to produce a documentary of not longer than 30 minutes and the topic of the docu-short should depict impact of COVID-19 on the creative industry.
The submission could also be a general documentary of life during COVID-19 in Botswana. Interested filmmakers are required to submit your proposal to csi@fnbbotswana. co.bw, no later than May 29 2020.
“A panel of well-established judges in this category will review all submissions in accordance with originality and creativity, story line, theme and audience appeal. The review process may take up to one week.
The initiative is open to Batswana citizens only and only successful candidates will be contacted,” a press release from the bank stated.
The creative community has been hard hit by, prompting us to introduce the short film documentaries,” a press release from FNBB stated. In an interview with Arts & Culture, filmmaker and lecturer at Awil College, Thabiso Ranthoyakgale said this is a welcome initiative that will hugely contribute to the film industry.
He said to witnessed such amount of money being channeled into the industry is a big step. “It means growth and to see FNBB doing this could be the wake up call for this industry, private stakeholders plays an important part in the film industry, there is need for more involvement and we hope as FNBB takes the lead more can follow and contribute to the industry,” he highlighted.
Ranthoyakgale who has made a number of films and documentaries locally hailed this as the beginning of better things to come with more content being sponsored and even more content being produced. “This can only benefit the industry with more opportunities for filmmakers.
We dream of big productions with big budgets and if stakeholders come to the party we can reach and create a sustainable film industry for all to get a piece of the pie,” he revealed. The AFDA film school alumni said he hopes that a lot will look to take this opportunity and they should.
“For some it could be a chance to get the break they are looking for. All the best to them,” he indicated. Unlike other sectors of the creative arts, the government recently announced that film productions could start.