‘KAPANA’ MOVIE HITS THE LOCAL CINEMAS WILL GETTING INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

The Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) is a Namibian Trust aiming at creating social awareness using the Arts. OYO’S latest offering ‘Kapana’ successfully premiered at Ster Kinekor, Groove Mall, on Thursday 6 August at 6.30 pm. Sadly COVID19 regulations at the time prevented the movie to be screened any further. It is therefore with excitement that OYO just announced six screenings around World AIDS Day: three at Maerua Mall (26 and 27 November and 02 December) and three at Grove Mall (04, 05 and 08 December). All screenings start at 6 pm – rules and regulations pertaining to COVID19 regulations (one seat out of two, mask compulsory, etc.) apply.

Those screenings coincide with exciting news ‘the film has started to tour festivals’ Explains Talavera ‘and so far it has been extremely well received. All festivals are online, sadly, due to the COVID19 pandemic. But still, they are an exciting opportunity to showcase our work and receive feedback’. ‘Kapana’ scooped runner-up: Best International Film, Audience Award at the Out On Film Atlanta LGBTQ Film Festival in October and is one of 56 selected at the Relook Queer film + video festival, Kingston, Canada. Upon sharing the official selection, the festival director Matt Salton wrote: ‘In total, we had well over a thousand submissions on Film Freeway and our committee chose 56 titles from 18 different countries’.

For ‘Kapana’, film director Philippe Talavera resumed his collaboration with Adriano Visagie, winner Best Actor Southern Africa at the Sotigui Awards 2019, who is performing the leading role of George. Written by award-winner Senga Brockenhoff and Mikiros Garoes, ‘Kapana’ is a positive Namibian love story. ‘By now everybody has heard that ‘Kapana’ is Namibia’s first gay love story’ says Talavera ‘It was really important for us to tell that story. Too many people are living in the closet, scared to express their sexuality and be free to love. ‘Kapana’ is first and foremost a romantic comedy. It is a beautiful albeit unconventional Namibian love story.’

 ‘Kapana’ is star filed: Adriano Visagie, Mikiros Garoes (winner Best newcomer Namibian Theatre and Film Award 2019), Dawie Engelbrecht (winner Best male Actor Namibian Theatre and Film Award 2014), veteran actresses Felicity Celento and Elize de Wee, Foreversun Haiduwah (the third will) and Albertina Hainane (the third will) are all present. It also features amazing newcomers led by Simon Hanga and Chanwrill Vries. The crew includes Kit Hoffmann as Director of Photography (winner best director of photography NTFA2016), Marelie von Mollendorf for Makeup, Ponti Dikuua and Micheal Pulse for the music (‘the white line’, ‘Salute!’), Haiko Boldt as editor (winner best editor NTFA 2016) and Wojtek Majewski for the post-production (‘Katutura’, ‘Salute!’). 

Tickets for local screenings are for sale at Ster Kinekor. You can follow the team Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages (KapanaMovie) – or using the hashtags #KapanaMovie and #ANamibianLoveStory.