Luanda - The second edition of the Kianda International Short Film Festival (Fesk-Kianda), which started on Thursday in Luanda, paid homage to the film director Maria João Ganga.
The event, which is scheduled to end on January 26, includes the screening of 24 films.
The honored director of the "Na cidade vazia" 2004 hit movie, expressed satisfaction with the homage adding that the realization of festivals like these means that the cinema in the country is alive.
In her view, despite the pandemic moment that the world is going through, the Angolan youth adheres to the cinema and intends to continue giving life to this art, although it is a sector that starts and stops and vice-versa, but the makers are always working.
On the other hand, there is a lack of funds to support the sector, as well as policies that aim to galvanize the cinema in the country, and the government is doing its part and the movie makers should invest more in academic and technical-professional training, Ganga said.
Fesc-Kianda is the first international film festival that awards short films produced from January to November of each year, held annually as part of the Luanda anniversary celebrations.
The event also aims to award the best film of the festival, best national film, as well as the best directors, actor, actress, original script, documentary, soundtrack, artistic direction, photography, makeup, characterization, costumes, editing, and visual effects.
Maria João Ganga was born in Huambo, in 1964. She graduated at École Supérieure d'Études Cinématographiques in Paris, France. She worked as assistant director on several documentaries, including Rostov Luanda, by Abderrahmane Sissako. She also writes and directs theatre plays.
In 2004, she directed the film Na Cidade Vazia, a drama that portrays a group of children in post-war in Luanda. It was the first Angolan feature film directed by a woman. The movie gave her prizes in several film festivals.
Currently, she owns and directs the Casa das Artes, located in Luanda, a cultural space open to almost all disciplines of the arts. It has an auditorium and a training program with dance, painting, theatre, capoeira, photography and other creative activities.