Varsity Film Expo on the cards
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Sunday November 6, 2022 06:00
The Varsity Film Expo is an annual event for emerging content creators in universities.
It celebrates film, film making and features film screenings, speaking sessions, podcast, art showcases and workshops, exhibitions and awards for outstanding productions and leading industry players.
According to the expo organisers, the overarching aim of the initiative is to see the development of "A critical mass of audacious young African film-makers, who utilise storytelling through film to articulate SDGs and Agenda 2063, African Union’s master plan for sustainable development and economic growth.” Garero Multimedia Agency founder and director, Fumani Eddie Tekere said as a filmmaker this is another welcome development and a key networking opportunity that will truly transform the film industry both locally and regionally.
He said Garero Multimedia Agency has been in the film industry for over 17 years and are now confident of a restored sense of direction as to how the industry can be monetised post the Silicon Valley African Film Festival screening opportunity this past October.
He highlighted that the expo will expose fellow film-makers to fundraising and distribution opportunities such as the NFT space and streaming-based platforms. “An opportunity exists for every film maker to position themselves for a great networking and marketing platform at this year’s VFX2022 both physically and virtually," he said. In a statement, the CEO and Founder of Varisty Film Expo 2022, Kudzai Chikomo said they are happy to have Garero Multimedia Agency as their local hosting partner. “The partnership with Garero Multimedia Agency is about synergy as Fumani Eddie Tekere brings to VFX2022 a broad experience in filmmaking and event organising.
We have confidence in his competencies as a producer and director to make the VFX2022 a success. We envisage a long-term collaborative relationship with his organisation and this is just the beginning,” said Chikomo. He added that film and content creation is part of the new knowledge economy and which everyone has to leverage upon as a collective.
According to the event organisers, the expo programme is tailored to satisfy the needs and tastes of young and emerging filmmakers although it is open to members of the public.
The Varsity Film Expo recognises an opportunity universities provide in leading the effort to recast Africa in a more hopeful light. These student’s creativity and innovation can be harnessed to motivate positive transformation in Africa.
The expo presents such an opportunity. It is said that Africa has one of the fastest-growing higher education sectors in the world as per the Africa No Filter (ANF)’s Business in Africa Narrative Report of 2022.
The expo has previously attracted global attention from varsity students spread across the world's five continents as well as secured the participation of heavy hitters from the African film industry including as far as in Hollywood and the Cypto space.