Foreword by the Wild Cinema Film Festival Trust – For the Open Minded

• “Mind-boggling”, is how we hope you will find the opening film for this year’s Wild Cinema Windhoek International Film Festival. When we roll out the red carpet for the 8th edition of our festival on Thursday, 3 April, you might also see sabre tooth tigers and mammoths strutting their stuff alongside the dignitaries, actors and film directors. While this of course will require a vivid imagination, it is our hope that this year’s festival will open your mind to unique and unusual stories told on celluloid.
  
  The sabre tooth tigers and mammoths are protagonists of acclaimed Hollywood director, Roland Emmerich’s latest fantasmagora: 10 000 BC. Wild Cinema’s opening feature, a stone-age adventure saga, was shot almost entirely on location in our beautiful Namibia, and there is more than the off chance of spotting a familiar face on the big screen. Since 10 000 BC is a product of the ‘dream factory’, Hollywood, millions of viewers around the world now have the opportunity to experience a piece of Namibia, albeit from the stone-age point of view.
  
  Proud as we are to present this mind-boggling spectacle on the big screen in the National Theatre of Namibia, we are even more pleased to announce that the Wild Cinema Windhoek International Film Festival now finally enjoys the full support and recognition of the Namibian government. The Namibia Film Commission (NFC) for the first time committed to be a main sponsor of the festival, rightfully taking ownership of an initiative aimed at promoting and supporting the development of the local film industry.
  
  Wild Cinema’s commitment towards the development of the local film industry was also recognized by the Embassy of Finland, our other main sponsor for this year’s festival. Since the Wild Cinema Film Festival does not only consist of an annual ten-day event filled with exciting film screenings, but rather understands itself as an ongoing, year-round development initiative, the Embassy of Finland agreed to support the festival with a much larger contribution than in previous years.
  
  Speaking of development, Wild Cinema in collaboration with the Goethe Centre Windhoek hosted a music clip production workshop for local filmmakers in the run-up to the festival. The music video produced by film students during this 14-day workshop will premiere during the festival on 5 April at the Goethe Centre (see page 36).
  
  Another exciting development project currently in progress is a short film competition Wild Cinema is launching in conjunction with p.art.ners berlin-windhoek. A total of 4 Namibian shorts will be funded and produced within the frame work of this competition. Currently we are calling for for script submissions from Namibian film makers. More details can be found on pages 38 to 39 or on the festival website www.wildcinema.org.
  
  The biggest step in promoting the local film industry was taken during last year’s festival, when we launched the Namibia Film Awards. This year the award ceremony, scheduled for 16 April, promises even more excitement, glitz and glamour as a total of 12 pre-selected local films and 15 music videos vie for Best Film 2008, Best Music Video 2008 and other awards. Don’t miss the hype and find out which productions get the jurors´ nod. Join local directors and actors for their finest hour at the National Theatre of Namibia for only N$ 50, cocktail included.
  
  Once again we are honored in welcoming international directors, producers and actors at this year’s festival: Ismaël Ferroukhi from Morocco, presenting his gripping road movie Le Grand Voyage, and Nikunja from La Réunion, who will present the world premiere of his art house film Nama, shot on location in the Namib Desert with Namibia’s Face-of-Africa-2006 winner, the stunning Venantia Otto. Thank you to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs for inviting our guests - and thank you to our long-term partner FNCC, for inviting festival visitors to a reception of our visiting Franco-African film professionals on 5 April.
  
  From South Africa we are expecting the cast and crew of the comedy Big Fellas, the closing film of our festival, screened open-air at the Zoopark Amphitheatre. Local filmmakers are invited to meet and network with our visitors during the “Filmmakers’ Brunch” on the morning of 5 April at the Goethe Centre Windhoek.
  
  Our appreciation also goes to the many long-standing partners and supporters of the festival, too numerous to name individually. Please refer to the back page of this program to see who is making this festival possible.
  
  With that we wish all festival fans an inspiring ten days of movie watching. With a total of 27 Namibian and 23 international films (all in original language with English subtitles) on offer, "open your mind" for another edition of Wild Cinema!

MESSAGE from SEIJA KINNI-HUTTUNEN, CHARGÉE D'AFFAIRES A.I. OF FINLAND, Main Sponsor

• A nation's strength lies in its culture. Therefore, in all societies, cultural forms are linked to a sense of national and cultural identity. As a committed supporter of the Arts and Culture in Namibia, the Embassy of Finland has been a partner of the Wild Cinema Windhoek International Film Festival over the past few years. What makes this festival truly unique is its developmental approach of inclusiveness. Thus, the Namibian public is given an opportunity to view non-Hollywood or independent films, shown at various locations in the capital accessible to all. At the same time, emphasis is placed on providing capacity building incentives for local filmmakers through training and providing a screening platform for local productions.
  
  Since development based on knowledge, know-how and innovation is economically, socially and ecologically sustainable, I hope that the Wild Cinema Windhoek International Film Festival contributes newly acquired knowledge and innovative ideas to local filmmakers and film enthusiasts with the aim of improving their talents and skills.
  
  This year's festival is organised under the exciting heading 'Open your Mind'. I would like to encourage all Namibians to take the time and watch the films on offer at the festival this year with an open and receptive mind, since we are afforded this opportunity only once a year. The programme consists of over 20 internationally celebrated films from around the world, 3 international productions shot on location in Namibia, 12 Namibian productions in competition for the Namibia Film Awards and 15 Namibian Music Videos. Many of these films will challenge the audiences’ established world view, broach different emotions and generate debate. An open mind will therefore allow for the best possible festival experience.
  
  Behind great events there is always a group of committed people: Let me congratulate the Wild Cinema Festival Trust for their unceasing passion and dedication in, once again, organising this remarkable celebration of film and art in Windhoek.
  
  Lastly, let me take this opportunity to invite you all to view the two Finnish films on show: the award winning "Lights in the Dusk" by Aki Kaurismäki and a film for the whole family "The Christmas Story" by Juha Wuolijoki.
  
  Enjoy the festival!
  
  Yours in Art and Culture,
  
  Seija Kinni-Huttunen
  Chargée d'Affaires a.i. of Finland

Message from the Mayor of the City of Windhoek, Cllr Matheus Shikongo

• It is indeed an honour to welcome you once again to the Wild Cinema Windhoek International Film Festival. I am doing so not only in my capacity as Mayor of the City of Windhoek, but also as patron of the Wild Cinema Film Festival, which you will witness over the next 10 days all over the capital.
  
  

  When the Wild Cinema Film Festival Trust invited me in 2006 to be the patron of the Windhoek International Film Festival, I had no idea of the amount of hard work that goes year-round into organising these 10 days of world cinema in Windhoek; nor was I aware of the influence of the film festival for our own film industry or how it helps our film makers to receive recognition abroad. But over the past two years I have been watching the phenomenal growth of not only the film festival but also our film industry.

  
  By now our very own big screen production is earning awards at international film festivals abroad – I am talking of course about Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation. And our film makers and their productions - which are stories about Namibia, our country and our people - are nominated for international film competitions, with our film makers travelling far and wide to festivals around the world. Then we had the birth of the Namibia Film Awards at last year’s Film Festival – indeed a historic occasion where our film makers were for the first time publicly recognized and awarded for their hard, creative work. Here we are again about to watch more world cinema screen gems, while our actors and producers will rub shoulders with directors and producers from all around the world, eagerly hoping to hear who will walk away with the Best Film of 2007 Award.
  
  This is not small fry, as they say in the industry. These types of accomplishments take hard work and dedication and I am proud to say, that both the City of Windhoek and me as the Mayor of the City of Windhoek are associated with such a prestigious project. Therefore, a heartfelt “Well Done” to the organizers of the Festival and I can only once again urge all the parties and stakeholders involved in either the festival or the Namibian film industry to give the Wild Cinema Film Festival Trust all the support they deserve.
  
  In conclusion, allow me to use this opportunity to wish all the participants a joyous festival; and at the same time encourage them to worker even harder to take this glamorous event to greater heights.
  
  Matheus K. Shikongo Patron

Message from the Jurors of the Namibia Film Awards

• Although it is only the second award ceremony of the Namibia Film Awards it seems that so much has been accomplished since its inception barely a year ago. Back in 2007 the Wild Cinema Film Festival Trust approached stakeholders and cornerstone institutions of the Namibian film and television industry with the idea of forming an official platform for rewarding the creative work of Namibian film makers at the annual Windhoek International Film Festival.

  
  Sanctioned by the Film Commission Secretariat of Namibia and the Filmmakers Association of Namibia (FAN), and judged by an independent panel of jurors elected from the public as well as the private sector, the Namibia Film Awards can be considered the only real stepping stone for Namibia’s talented and ambitious film-makers.
  
  The importance of national recognition for film and television work in Namibia cannot be over-emphasised, especially in light of the big studio productions streaming into the country, as well as the recent completion of our very own entry onto the big screen: “Namibia – The Struggle for Liberation”.
  
  Judging the 2008 Namibia Film Awards has proven to be both challenging and rewarding: more local productions (a total of 17 films and 34 music videos) were submitted than in previous years, with an even greater spread of genres in the work encountered. For this reason, our work as jurors was divided: not only in selecting the most professional work for screening at this years’ Windhoek International Film Festival, but also for the first time we had to make a distinction for a genre specific award – the Best Music Video Award.
  
  The rationale for this is simple: the music industry is the most prolific branch of the local entertainment industry. While other music video awards recognise the endeavours of musicians and their musical abilities, the Music Video Award of the Namibia Film Awards aims to reward the film maker for visually interpreting the music of an artist in a creative, yet appropriate manner.
  
  With regard to the remaining productions we have limited the judging to productions meeting professional standards of work irrespective of genre or style. Thus any film selected for screening has the opportunity of winning the Award for Best Picture.
  
  To conclude, we would like to thank the Wild Cinema Film Festival Trust for their outstanding work in organising yet another Windhoek International Film Festival and for inviting us to participate as jurors for the 2008 Namibia Film Awards.
  
  Vickson Hangula, Boardmember of the Namibia Film Commission (NFC)
  Robin Tyson, Lecturer Media Studies, University of Namibia
  Michael Mansfield, Independent Film Expert
  Michaela Bauer, Boardmember of the Filmmakers Association of Namibia (FAN)
  Rosa Namises, “The Voice of the Audience”

Message by Main Sponsor, Namibia Film Commission

• In line with our statutory obligation the Namibia Film Commission is proud to be the official sponsor of the Wild Cinema Windhoek International Film Festival 2008. We at the Namibia Film Commission view films as a powerful medium, through which any nation can impart its experiences and illuminate its traditions and cultures to the outside world, thereby creating a better understanding in a world divided in so many ways.   The Namibian film industry has the potential to contribute immensely towards the growth of the national wealth. As such we at the Namibia Film Commission strive to create a vibrant and sustainable film industry in Namibia by the year 2030 and beyond. The Namibia Film Commission recognizes the efforts made by the Wild Cinema Windhoek International Film Festival towards the creation of the film industry in Namibia and we whole heartedly support this noble objective, aiming to work closely with all stake holders to realize the dream of a vibrant and sustainable film industry in our country. Namibia with its contrasting beauty of landscapes and modern infrastructures has the potential of becoming a sought after filming destination for foreign film productions and therefore the business community is urged to realize this potential and invest in the film industry, which at this point still presents a virgin investment territory in Namibia. Last year we saw a number of films and commercials made by Namibians at the Wild Cinema Windhoek International Film Festival, and I am convinced this year we will see even more and better films, and I firmly believe the festival will be getting bigger and better year after year. Edwin Kanguatjivi Executive Secretary Namibia Film commission