Taking one for Namibia
The search for the winner for Discovery Channel's new award category at the sixth annual Jozi Film Festival has heated up after receiving over 200 entries from across Africa, but only 10 were chosen.
The Discovery Channel recently announced the Top 10 finalists for the Discovery Channel 'Don't Stop Wondering' award and a Namibian film 'Another Sunny Day' has made it to the top 10.
The idea of the film based on the harsh Namibian sun came as a joke. Tim Huebschle, the producer, was driving to his house from the gym and because he couldn't locate his shades he was avoiding the glare from the sun by dodging it and just like that, 'Another Sunny Day' was born.
Imagine how difficult life must be for someone whose skin needs protection and who must suffer the heat from the desert sun. Now imagine living in a country with an average of 80% sunny weather in a year.
Welcome to Paulus's life in Namibia. Shot in six days, edited and submitted, Huebschle says he didn't expect his little film to make it into top 10 of the Discovery Channel new award category at the sixth annual Jozi Film Festival.
The movie follows Paulus Johannes, a man who lives with albinism.
This means his skin is exposed for long hours to the scorching sun. Paulus's homeland is Namibia.
This sunny weather adds to Namibia's beauty but imagine how Paulus feels and what he has to do to cope under such a harsh climate.
'Another Sunny Day' provides a brief glimpse into how Paulus manages to endure life in this hot climate.
Following the “Don't Stop Wondering” theme of the competition, the film sets out to make the audience experience the act of wondering as they watch the film.
Why does this guy have to take so much care when exposed to the sun is the question that stays with the audience until the answer is revealed at the end of the three-minute film.
Huebschle says the idea was to create a film that would touch the audience and leave them with an emotional connection with a person with albinism living in hot climate. “All of us have a relationship with the sun and most of us love the sunshine, but have we ever stopped for a moment and wondered what a person whose skin has no sun protection whatsoever must feel? If the film leaves you with that thought, and the next time you encounter a person with albinism, you should have a better understanding of one of the many challenges they face on a daily basis,” Huebschle wonders.
Huebschle, who was born in Germany and raised in Namibia, started making independent short films in 2000 while interning at production companies in Berlin. In 2003 he returned to his home country Namibia, where he handled the production of a documentary TV series for the national broadcaster.
Since then he has shot a wide range of short films, TV series, commercials and music videos, some of which garnered local and international acclaim at a few film festivals and award ceremonies.
Asked how this nomination could positively impact some challenges that Namibian filmmakers face, Huebschle says there are many things that could change, including finance. “Generally I'd say all of us filmmakers struggle to find the necessary financial resources to realise our creative efforts. It's important to tell our stories so that future generations have the ability to understand what made us tick in the 2010s,” he said. Huebschle says it's already a great honour to be among the top 10 films from the African continent. Should the film bring the grand prize home, he hopes that finding funding for more such non-fiction shorts and other films about relevant and topical issues in Namibia becomes easier.
Vote for “Another Sunny Day” on the Discovery website www.discoverychannelafrica.com before 10:00 28 August. “People should watch the movie. It's concise and offers a different perspective on the abundance of sunshine in our country. If you like the film, then please drop us a vote on the website,” said Huebschle.
June Shimuoshili
The idea of the film based on the harsh Namibian sun came as a joke. Tim Huebschle, the producer, was driving to his house from the gym and because he couldn't locate his shades he was avoiding the glare from the sun by dodging it and just like that, 'Another Sunny Day' was born.
Imagine how difficult life must be for someone whose skin needs protection and who must suffer the heat from the desert sun. Now imagine living in a country with an average of 80% sunny weather in a year.
Welcome to Paulus's life in Namibia. Shot in six days, edited and submitted, Huebschle says he didn't expect his little film to make it into top 10 of the Discovery Channel new award category at the sixth annual Jozi Film Festival.
The movie follows Paulus Johannes, a man who lives with albinism.
This means his skin is exposed for long hours to the scorching sun. Paulus's homeland is Namibia.
This sunny weather adds to Namibia's beauty but imagine how Paulus feels and what he has to do to cope under such a harsh climate.
'Another Sunny Day' provides a brief glimpse into how Paulus manages to endure life in this hot climate.
Following the “Don't Stop Wondering” theme of the competition, the film sets out to make the audience experience the act of wondering as they watch the film.
Why does this guy have to take so much care when exposed to the sun is the question that stays with the audience until the answer is revealed at the end of the three-minute film.
Huebschle says the idea was to create a film that would touch the audience and leave them with an emotional connection with a person with albinism living in hot climate. “All of us have a relationship with the sun and most of us love the sunshine, but have we ever stopped for a moment and wondered what a person whose skin has no sun protection whatsoever must feel? If the film leaves you with that thought, and the next time you encounter a person with albinism, you should have a better understanding of one of the many challenges they face on a daily basis,” Huebschle wonders.
Huebschle, who was born in Germany and raised in Namibia, started making independent short films in 2000 while interning at production companies in Berlin. In 2003 he returned to his home country Namibia, where he handled the production of a documentary TV series for the national broadcaster.
Since then he has shot a wide range of short films, TV series, commercials and music videos, some of which garnered local and international acclaim at a few film festivals and award ceremonies.
Asked how this nomination could positively impact some challenges that Namibian filmmakers face, Huebschle says there are many things that could change, including finance. “Generally I'd say all of us filmmakers struggle to find the necessary financial resources to realise our creative efforts. It's important to tell our stories so that future generations have the ability to understand what made us tick in the 2010s,” he said. Huebschle says it's already a great honour to be among the top 10 films from the African continent. Should the film bring the grand prize home, he hopes that finding funding for more such non-fiction shorts and other films about relevant and topical issues in Namibia becomes easier.
Vote for “Another Sunny Day” on the Discovery website www.discoverychannelafrica.com before 10:00 28 August. “People should watch the movie. It's concise and offers a different perspective on the abundance of sunshine in our country. If you like the film, then please drop us a vote on the website,” said Huebschle.
June Shimuoshili
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