Bantu Film Festival pushes local stories onto world stage

For Festival Director, Lesedi Mphothwe, the milestone is both a celebration and a challenge. “Reaching our fifth edition is an important milestone, not only for the festival but also for Botswana’s film industry,” she opines. “This year we want to build on that foundation and look more closely at what it takes to grow a sustainable film industry.” The festival also coincides with Botswana’s 60th independence anniversary and Mphothwe sees it as a chance to examine identity through film.

“It is an opportunity to reflect on our stories, our identity and how we can share our experiences with the world,” she states. In practical terms, the theme is about equipping filmmakers to take their work further. “We have talented people with powerful stories, but telling a good story is only one part of filmmaking,” she explains. “Filmmakers also need the right skills, resources, industry connections and opportunities to distribute their work.”