New NFC board ready to reform film industry

The Namibia Film Commission (NFC) hosted a three-day retreat last week for new board members to pave the way forward for the film industry.Deputy chairperson of the NFC board, Reagan Malumo, on Friday said in his view the industry is quite “disorganised” and that policies need to be harmonised to ensure proper governance.“For example, filmmakers currently only need permits to operate, but how they treat local workers is unregulated," he said."Foreign crews often come in with their own teams, disadvantaging Namibians. We need frameworks to regulate fair employment practices. Additionally, financial constraints hinder our ability to grow the local industry and roll out initiatives across the country.”Malumo explained that the retreat focused on understanding the film industry.“Stakeholders shared their perspectives, helping us identify problems and create a strategic roadmap for the next three years.”Changes needed Malumo underlined that filmmaking shouldn’t be limited to a privileged few – it should be an inclusive industry that benefits all regions.“To achieve this, we need to grow the Film Fund and establish financial sustainability, aiming for full autonomy of the film commission. The commission is still under the ministry of information and communication technology, but we aim to amend the law to address these challenges and upgrade the commission’s structure to meet its functions.”He added that government has done well to establish the Film Act, but amendments are needed to remove bottlenecks and harmonise policies.“These foundations provide a springboard for progress. We hope for support from all stakeholders as we grow the film industry to contribute meaningfully to Namibia’s economy and create jobs. Every region and community has unique stories to tell, and our goal is to ensure everyone has a chance to be part of this industry.”Among the goals of last week's retreat was to understand the contributions each sector can offer and develop a cohesive strategy to grow the film industry. "Additionally, as Namibia works on the National Development Plan (NDP6), we aim to align the film industry with the broader economic objectives of the country. This includes exploring how the industry can create jobs and contribute to national development, particularly in line with the incoming president's focus on job creation," Malumo said. Align policies NFC commissioner Iyaloo Hamunyela-Aawanga on Friday said as new members, they recognise the importance of engaging with stakeholders in the sector before commencing their tasks.“Coming from the tourism industry, where film is one of our key products, it’s vital to align policies and address issues like skills development, compliance, and outdated regulations.”She added that one key challenge is the lack of compliance.“We need to strengthen regulations and amend the Film Act, as it’s outdated. Capacity building is another area of concern – many skills required for international productions are lacking in Namibia. We need to enhance local expertise so that Namibians can fully benefit from these opportunities, from drivers to camera operators and equipment providers. We aim to create a production hub in Namibia, equipped to support all aspects of film production.”“The film sector holds many opportunities. As a board, we’re committed to fast-tracking internship programmes and identifying key institutions for skills development," Hamunyela-Aawanga said.She added: "Namibia faces high unemployment, especially among youth. By training even a small number of young people annually in specific areas, we can start making a difference and ensure Namibia contributes to the global film industry with quality services and productions".

New NFC board ready to reform film industry

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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New NFC board ready to reform film industry

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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