Residents of Dar es Salaam will get the chance to see the French blockbuster, ‘Untouchables’ this evening as it opens this year’s European Film Festival (EFF).
The resident European delegation representative, Tom Vens, addresses members of the press at yesterday’s pre-launch press meeting within the Umoja House complex, in Dar es Salaam. Left is the Director of Alliance Francaise, Sullivan Benetier, where the opening film is being screened today. Right is Sauda Simba Kilimanga of Trinity promotions. (Photo by Iman Mani)
The screening is slated to be at the local Alliance Francaise to officially kick-off the annual event at 8pm. This is the first of 18 films scheduled to be screened at four different venues during the festival over the next three days.
In a pre-launch press meeting at Umoja House in the city on Thursday, the EU delegation’s representative, Tom Vens, explained that they will not be able to hold any other screenings outside of Dar es Salaam because they are working on a small budget.
However, they are looking for ways to carry future events to other regions in the country.
Vens maintained that the screenings are opportunities for local residents to taste very different kind of movies and look at the other products, which are screened at some of these cultural venues on other occasions.
“It’s great to have this festival here again. And I want to say that at the European Union, we are very proud to be promoters of culture,” he added.
Vens noted that earlier in the year, the EU had launched a support programme for cultural and the creative industries. This also provided support for the local film industry.
On a global basis they have a programme called ‘Media’, which specifically supports the film industry and has lead to a number of productions that have won Oscars and other major awards.
The EU has been organising these film festival on a global basis since 1990 and they want to continue doing.
Vens referred to the EU Ambassador, Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi’s remarks of being “really excited to bring this excellent opening film through the EFF, which although light-hearted, addresses the very real issues of disability and mismatched friendship.”
Film is a great medium to show how different communities live and interact with each other and also how similar they are. That is why the EU is pleased to bring this ‘exciting weekend’ of free films to both Tanzanians and expatriate audiences in Dar es Salaam.
By IMAN MANI, Tanzania Daily News
