Women in film

Local filmmaker and director Oshosheni Hiveluah is leading the female pack in the industry. From Black Panther star Danai Gurira in Hollywood to award-winning director Sarah Bletcher right here on African soil, southern Africa has produced some of the most talented women filmmakers. Whether on TV or film, behind or in front of the camera, these women - of all ages and backgrounds - have pioneered and made innovations in the industry, simultaneously flying the southern African flag high. With these achievements, there is still a lot of work still to be done to ensure an inclusive and equal on-screen community, especially for women in southern Africa. Through dialogue and efforts such as the newly opened MultiChoice Talent Factory - a film and TV academy with hubs in east, west and southern Africa - which has selected 20 students (ten women) in the region to develop their skills, strides are being made to equip and empower young female TV and film creators of southern Africa and create a sustainable and gender-balanced industry. From the land of the brave, is Oshosheni Hiveluah, a Namibian writer and director. She is indeed one of the many southern African women changing the TV and film scene and inspiring a generation of future female filmmakers.Hiveluah's groundbreaking film Tjitji the Himba Girl was this year named as one of five films directed by African women that confront gender stereotypes. Among Sara Bletcher's award-winning Ayanda and Between Rings by Jessie Chisi (who is on this list), Tjitji the Himba Girl is about a rural Himba girl torn between her parent's cultural values and her dreams of becoming a talk show host, which goes against her tradition.With four short movies under her name and currently working on her debut feature film, the filmmaker says about the industry: “For the longest time filmmaking has been something that a lot of men have been doing but in recent years women have been coming out.” Part of the group celebrating Women's Month last year titled I Come From Womxn, Oshosheni says, “I find that it's important for me to be able tell stories that are about African women. What is our place in society? Where do we want to go? How do we view ourselves? Being given this voice, I want to portray women the way I know them. So, it's important that I am able to create real characters.”Other females topping the list include Yolisa Phahle from South Africa, Jessie Chisi - director and producer from Zambia, Joyce Mhango Chavula, a director from Malawi, Zimbabwean Danai Gurira and director Tumi Sejoe from Botswana.Staff Reporter

Women in film

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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Women in film

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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