Award-winning European films to grace local screens
KENEUOE NKUATSANA
MASERU – Three European films ‘Stories on Human Rights’, ‘Acasa My Home’ and ‘The Pipe’ will be screened free of charge at different venues during the Lesotho International Film Festival (LIFF) – thanks to cooperation with the European Film Festival in South Africa. The European Union (EU) remains a keen supporter of the LIFF organised by Sesotho Media and Development, having provided funding to the festival over the years. This year the EU will also be funding the LIFF, pencilled for November 23 to December 10.
“In the framework of the partnership between the European Union and the Lesotho International Film Festival, the EU provides support to the festival in its mission to promote local talent and in allowing people in Maseru to appreciate productions that would not otherwise be available to them”, says Head of the European Union Delegation to Lesotho, Ambassador Paola Amadei.
‘Stories on Human Rights’ will be the first to be screened on November 25 at the Alliance Française in Maseru at 19h20. A feature film comprising 22 short stories, ‘Stories on Human Rights’ was made in observance of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The film is presented in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. Ambassador Paola Amadei will introduce the film at the event.
The second film, ‘Acasa, My Home’, will be screened at Morija on December 2 at 16h40. An example of European cooperation, the film was produced in Germany, Romania and Finland. It has won numerous awards across the world including in Belgium, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, and USA. Director Risteard O Domhnaill’s ‘The Pipe’ completes the list. It will be screened at Café What? in Maseru on December 6 at 19h35. O’Domhnaill will attend the LIFF and participate in a Question and Answer session with the audience after the screening of his film. He will also give a filmmakers’ master class to Basotho students.
Among the Sesotho Media and Development films that will be presented ‘From trash to treasure’, directed by Lara Lee, can be seen at Café what? On November 23, ‘Ntetsetse’, directed by Carlos Khutlisi will be show at Alliance Française on November 25 while ‘Botsa lebitla’, which is directed by Rethabile Tafa, will be watched at The Hub on November 26. “This is a tremendous opportunity for a renowned European film director to engage with Basotho who are interested in film and for him to pass knowledge to them,” Ambassador Paola Amadei adds.
