By Pius Nyondo--MalawiHeat
Filmmakers
Ashukile Mwakisulu from Blantyre and John Sukez Sukali from Lilongwe are the
two people that have expressed interest to contest for the position of
president of Film Association of Malawi (Fama) during elections scheduled for
June 19.
Fama president,
Ezaius Mkandawire, said in a media interview that finally the association was
going to hold its elective indaba after it could not happen last year due to
COVID-19 restrictions.
Mwakisulu new movie All We Have Is Us to be premiered soon
Mkandawire,
who has been at the helm of the association for some time, said he was not
seeking another term.
“Let others
serve the association, I have done my part and for now let me bow out,”
Mkandawire told The Daily Times.
According to Mkandawire, the elections are
expected to be held at the Copyright Society of Malawi (Cosoma) offices in the
capital Lilongwe.
While Mwakisulu and Sukali are up for
Fama’s top-most job, Flora Suya—one of the country’s celebrated female
filmmakers—is has expressed interest to contest for the position of vice
president.
Mwakisulu starred in internationally
celebrated Shemu Joyah’s movie The Last Fishing Boat, and is
also the brains behind a soapie Choices—televised on Times
Television (TTV).
Sukali recently released a highly touted
movie Fatsani, while Suya has starred in a number of movies
including Seasons of a Life and The Last Fishing Boat.
She was nominated as best actress at the
6th and 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremonies.
Meanwhile, Mkandawire expressed
discontentment on the continued “lack of investment in the creative industry,”
as observed in the 2021/2022 budget presented by finance minister Felix Mlusu
last week.
“Once again, the budget does not have a
vote. It is the same old song and it is like the creative sector is nothing.
“We don’t know when the creative sector
will be considered. There must be a relook into this otherwise there is no
investment to grow the creative industry,” said Mkandawire.
