‘KAPANA’ WINS

‘KAPANA’ WON BEST FEATURE FILM AT THE AFRICAN DIASPORA CINEMA FESTIVAL IN ITALY AND BEST DIRECTOR AT THE NORTH EAST INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN THE UK

‘Kapana’, one of the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO)’s films, has just won Best Feature Film at the African Diaspora Cinema Festival in Florence (Italy) and Best Director at the North East International Film Festival in Newcastle (UK).

The African Diaspora Cinema Festival’s vision is to raise awareness about Africa Cinema, its vast potential and the socio-economic impact it has not only on African economies but gradually expanding to other parts of the world’s economy as well. Its aim is to use cinema to create a revolution that will change the social and economical horizon of Africa, by creating the way for the countless number of films produced in Africa and by the African diaspora filmmakers.

The North East International Film Festival is an IMDB qualifying festival, one of only 80 festivals worldwide to adopt the F-Rating, representing females in film, the first EVER festival to sign up to the BBC 50/50 Equality Project, making that organisational commitment to diversity and the first EVER festival to receive the Raising Films Ribbon for creating an inclusive space for Filmmaker, Audience and our Team!

‘Kapana’ is the first Namibian queer film. Produced and directed by Philippe Talavera, it is first and foremost a love story. Written by award-winner Senga Brockenhoff and Mikiros Garoes, the film stars Adriano Visagie (Best Actor Southern Africa, Sotigui Awards 2019) and Simon Hanga. with a supporting cast including 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 Philander and Elize de Wee, Foreversun Haiduwah (‘the third will’), Albertina Hainane (‘the third will’) and newcomer Chanwrill Vries.

‘Kapana has now won major prizes on four continents’ says Talavera. ‘Those two awards are from Europe. In America, we won Best Feature Film at the DC Black Film Festival (USA) and the Kim Renders Memorial Award for Outstanding Performance (Adriano Visagie) at the Reelout Film Festival (Canada). In Africa, we won Best Feature Film at the Black Stars International Film Festival (Ghana) and in Oceania, we won Best Feature Film at the Pride Queer Film Festival (Australia). It is really amazing that we have such international recognition.’

When asked how he felt about winning Best Director at an international film festival, Talavera said ‘it was very humbling. There were films from Japan, the USA, the UK, etc. It was really a beautiful festival with a wide array of films. Many filmmakers actually came to watch ‘Kapana’ and were impressed by the film. It was a beautiful experience. We don’t always get recognized for the work we do in Namibia – so to get this international endorsement of our work is gratifying.’

Talavera’s presence at the North East International Film Festival was made possible thanks to support from the Namibian Film Commission.