Watch out for the best of contemporary international movies when the Wild Cinema Windhoek International Film Festival will kick off in April 2005!

The Film Festival will not take place in November this year due to extensive changes in the concept. Since its inception four years ago the Wild Cinema Film Festival has been a popular event in Windhoek’s cultural calendar, reaching an audience of 5400 people during its last edition in November 2003. This success requires to increase the efforts to upgrade the festival to international standards.

Thus the organizers have decided to implement a new strategy for the festival with the main aim of enhancing the exposure of Namibian film-makers to wide audiences, and bringing to Windhoek the best international movies. Wild Cinema wants to commit itself to develop the local film industry by organizing workshops with international film professionals and – as soon as funds have been secured - facilitating a short film competition. The best Namibian short films are to be screened at the next edition of the festival in April 2005.

So far the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC), which has been the main sponsor for the festival since its inception, has granted its continued support for Wild Cinema 2005. The Goethe Centre Windhoek/NaDS will facilitate a workshop for filmmakers with two professionals from Germany. Efforts are underway to also incorporate the private sector of Namibia and international organizations as supporters of this popular festival.

This leap forward requires new structures and new financing commitments. As regards structures, the trust "Wild Cinema Film Festival" has been founded. The trust will create a permanent and accountable framework for the organization of the event. Founding members are Michaela Bauer, Carlos Aragon Gil de la Serna and Irmgard Schreiber, all of whom where members of the organizing committee of last year’s Wild Cinema Windhoek International Film Festival. Windhoek based film maker Leo Phiri is also part of the trustees and will be responsible for coordinating the short film project. The trust has elected Michaela Bauer as the Chairperson and Main Coordinator, Irmgard Schreiber as Marketing and Public Relations Officer and Carlos Aragon Gil de la Serna as Legal Advisor.

The Wild Cinema Film Festival 2005 will continue with its effort to extend the festival from the main venue at the FNCC Cinema to alternative venues like the Katutura Community Arts Centre and open air screenings at the Zoo Park, which proved to be so popular last year. Watch the press for further news on Wild Cinema!