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Chipawo is doing well in nurturing young talent

Tafadzwa Zimoyo Entertainment Reporter
Last year, Namibian arts and culture centre, AfricAvenir, launched the initiative called ‘‘Inspriring Young Imaginations’’ with the sole aim of promoting films that talk about children and youth, while at the same time inculcating in them moral and educative principles.

The initiative, according to the organisers of the monthly film fete — which is held in the Namibian capital Windhoek — “originated from an experienced lack of access and opportunities for children to watch inspiring, entertaining and educative movies with African content”.

So popular has the Inspiring Young Imaginations festival become that parents make it a must to take their children to the screening, since they have realised the worth and value that is inherent in the concept and the productions on offer in terms of moulding their kids and youths in general into responsible citizens.

While in Zimbabwe, a good number of film festivals such as the Zimbabwe International Film Festival and the International Images for Women, among others, serve a good purpose and sit at the top of the tree in terms of projecting relevant issues besetting society to the public through film, there is, however, a yawning gap when it comes to a relevant film festival focusing specifically on children and youth.

This is one relevant constituency of society that needs to have their issues addressed, especially at this moment in time when cases of child abuse are on the increase.

The setting up of a film festival in Zimbabwe will help in stoking the fire of debate and also set the ball rolling in terms of action being taken in order to smash the ugly head of crimes against children and youths.

There is the old adage that says a picture is worth a thousand words; the same also rings true with the film medium which, when it is harnessed properly, can be a powerful vehicle of relaying potent messages to society on issues revolving around children.

While the Children’s Performing Arts and Workshop and programmes by the likes of Young People’s Network are doing sterling work in terms of pushing for children’s issues and involvement in their programmes, it is through the setting up of festivals like the Inspiring Young Imaginations that will help in propelling this agenda forward.

“The films we screen are from all over the African continent and tell in an entertaining and educative way stories from the perspective of children and young people about African history, cultures, different identities, social realities, adventures and experiences.

“The screenings are followed by discussions about the film and how it relates to the lives of our young audience.

“We feel it is important for children and youth to see movies they can relate to and identify themselves with; to see the beauty of African stories and experiences; to discover the diversity of the African continent; and to plant a seed in them, to want to tell their own stories too and trigger their own imagination in telling stories,” said the organisers of Inspiring Young Imaginations.

With the advent of technology, the culture of viewing immoral content in private among children and youths has also taken root and it is hoped that with the introduction of the film festival in Zimbabwe, kids will be steered in the right direction.

The festival will also act as a platform for ideal family viewership and act as a good pastime for families since they will take time out to enjoy the films in an environment that promotes social and community bonding, which has become a thing of the past owing to a number of influences and factors that have crept into the modern-day fabric of life.