My first film festival

In 2021 and 2023 I shot two short films and published them on YouTube. Neither film ever received a major release, but next week I will finally have the opportunity to screen them at The Film Week hosted by the Namibian Film Commission in Windhoek. It is an honour that my films were selected, and I cannot wait for other people to see them as well.

Verlate en Alleen and The Art of Unemployment: A Namibian Story will both be screened on 12 March at the festival. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend The Film Week myself. I shot both of these films with nothing more than a tripod and a mobile phone. There was nothing fancy about it, just the determination to tell a story.

The first film is an Afrikaans film called Verlate en Alleen, or Abandoned and Alone in English. It is a story about faith and finding hope during difficult times. The other one, The Art of Unemployment: A Namibian Story, is about a man who is struggling and simply trying to remain brave while getting through one more day.

This too shall pass

A bit of background about these films: I shot both of them during one of the lowest points in my life. Neither of them was easy to write because they were so personal. I drew a lot from my own life and from the people around me. The films were really just meant to keep me busy while I was trying to write a feature film script.

Verlate en Alleen is my favourite of the two because I was able to involve my parents in it. The film is about an elderly couple living somewhere on a farm in southern Namibia. They feel as though the world has forgotten them. Even though they feel abandoned, they know that God will still watch over them.

I wrote the film as a reminder to myself that difficult times may last longer than I had hoped, but they do not last forever. My parents were perfect for the roles and it was easy working with them. They were also able to place parts of themselves into the characters.

One man's story

Although the idea for The Art of Unemployment: A Namibian Story began in the same way as my other scripts, it eventually developed into something like a one-man show. I was alone, so I decided that I might as well play the role of the main character myself. I know I am not the best actor, which is why I decided to film it as a kind of mockumentary, inspired by programmes such as The Office and Parks and Recreation.

The film follows Sam Smith, a young man who has lost everything. At the time I was unemployed and sending out CV after CV without receiving any feedback, so I focused instead on writing a story. I was also not the only one struggling; many of my friends were having difficulty finding work as well.

The story was inspired by them, although I think the character was mostly inspired by myself. Unfortunately, the film never reached the audience I had hoped for, but I am glad it will finally have the chance to be seen by people in a cinema environment.

If you cannot attend The Film Week, you can watch both films on YouTube.