‘The Good Shepherd’ shines at Euro Film Fest

Namibian short film The Good Shepherd was screened at the Goethe-Institut Namibia as part of the Euro Film Fest, bringing a local production to the big screen alongside European films.The screening formed part of an initiative organised by the European Union (EU) together with its member states, with the aim of showcasing European and Namibian stories.Twaku Kayofa, spokesperson for the politics, press and information (PPI) section at EU in Namibia, said the festival brings together several European countries to share their stories through film.“We have five resident member states, but we also have member states who are accredited to Namibia. So we have Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal. Those are the resident ones,” he told tjil.He added that Estonia, Ireland and Poland were also participating in the festival, alongside Club Italiano.On-screen partnersKayofa said one of the festival’s key aims was to give Namibian filmmakers an opportunity to have their work screened alongside European films.“But more importantly, we are also going to have Namibian short films opening up for European films. Then Namibian films are going to be on the big screen,” he said.The festival began on 20 October, with screenings taking place every Tuesday and Thursday until 19 November.Beyond watching films, audiences will also get an opportunity to talk to the people behind the productions.“There is free popcorn, and you get to engage also the producers and the makers of the Namibian stories,” he said.The festival also includes a five-day production workshop focusing on sound design and co-production. The training is being organised in partnership with the Namibia Film Commission and the Filmmakers Association, with Tallinn University's Baltic Film School in Estonia providing international expertise.Behind the scenesFor The Good Shepherd, lead actor Mukendu Ndjavera said the film offered a different experience because of its shooting style.He told tjil that the production applied longer scenes with fewer camera cuts, allowing actors to remain in character for several minutes.“So being in the character and improvising and being on scene for, like, three or four minutes was pretty interesting. First time I've been doing that,” he said.While working in the film industry can be tough, Ndjavera said: “I know the struggles are there, but struggles are part of the growth man, it's all part of the growth. It's nothing unique.”He encouraged aspiring actors to remain committed to their craft and continue improving their skills. “Be persistent, if you love it, nothing will stop you,” he said.Ndjavera said he felt privileged to be part of the screenings and praised the quality of the event, which he has attended on most days."The European Film Festival has been so good. I didn't know what I was expecting, but it blew me away,” he said.

‘The Good Shepherd’ shines at Euro Film Fest

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-06

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‘The Good Shepherd’ shines at Euro Film Fest

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-06

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