Namibia, October 21st, 2019- Under the auspices of the Municipality of City of Windhoek, capital of Namibia, and the embassies of Venezuela and Cuba, the first edition of the NamCuVe Film Festival was inaugurated. The cinematographic event will take place from the 21st to the 24th of this month and will have as its headquarters three constituencies of the Katutura neighborhood.
The Festival aims to disseminate in the capital communities with less access to the cinema, the cinematographic productions made in the three countries; strengthen, through cinema, the historic bonds of friendship that unite the three nations; and be part of the celebrations for the Day of Cuban Culture.
The Mayor of the City, H.E. Muesee Kazapua, in his inaugural speech highlighted the importance of the event, as a vehicle to disseminate the culture of Venezuela and Cuba. He also recalled the solidarity of the people and government of Cuba with his country since the hard years of Namibia's struggle for independence.
The Cuban ambassador Sidenio Acosta Aday in his inauguration speech highlighted how culture became a right of the Cuban people from the revolutionary triumph of January 1st, 1959. He also referred to the development that Cuban cinema has achieved in these 60 years, despite the economic difficulties generated by the US blockade. In this regard, he condemned the recrudescence of that genocidal policy by the US government and thanked the historical solidarity with Cuba of the Namibian government and people. He also denounced the imperialist aggression against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
For his part, the Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Omar Barretorán, thanked the Namibian authorities for the opportunity provided and stressed the importance of cultural exchange to foster unity between his country, Cuba and Namibia. He also thanked the solidarity of the Island and the African nation in the defense of Venezuelan sovereignty.
More than 100 guests attended the inauguration, in which the trailers of the Cuban films “Habanstation” and “Kangamba” were screened, as well as the Venezuelan “El Manzano Azul” and “Libertador Morales, El Justiciero”, which may be observed by the public. The Namibian short film "Coming Home" was also screened on the opening gala.
In total, the Film Festival will feature the screening of 6 films, 2 from each country, as a representation of cinematography and a way to bring the reality of countries as geographically distant as Cuba and Venezuela to the Namibian people.