Namibia Film Commission announces women in film and TV initiative

The Namibia Film Commission announced via Twitter its newest venture, a Sisters Working in Film and Television (SWIFT) chapter. 

According to the press release, SWIFT: "deals with various obstacles women in film and television encounter, whilst offering women the opportunity to promote each other's work, fundraise for content, and share skills. 

"Namibian women in the film and television sector can be better placed and pronounce their talents in a conducive environment without fear or favour."

The initiative was spearheaded by filmmakers Ndakalako Shilongo and Othilia Tutu Mungoba with the support of the Namibia Film Commission. The NFC has asked all women filmmakers to participate in a survey which will "gather insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by female creatives in the film and television fraternity."

The results of the survey will guide SWIFT's objectives to ensure that the organisation innovates projects that are need-based.

Namibia's SWIFT chapter follows engagement with the sister organisation in South Africa where the non-profit organisation has been operating since 2016, to promote equality in a historically male-dominated industry. 

SWIFT has existing chapters in Durban, Johannesburg, Limpopo, and Cape Town. The organisation advocates for gender parity and intersectionality across the audio-visual sector and content production ecosystem, promotes career and personal development, knowledge exchanges through skills training and mentorship, and creates industry networking opportunities for its members.

In addition, SWIFT exists to monitor, facilitate, and report through strategic interventions the closing of the gender disparity gaps in the content-creation ecosystem and to create economic access for women across the audio-visual industry. 

The Namibia Film Commission's mission is "to have a Film Industry of excellence that reflects Namibia’s cultural diversity and contributes meaningfully to national development."