Malawi Film Festival will this year introduce three awards on a newly added International Category on the forthcoming two day festival to be held on 24 and 25 November at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe.

Coordinator for the festival Philmon Kuipa said in an interview that as organizers they believe that the newly introduced category will add value to the festival which was only awarding local film producers, actors and cinematographers.

He said: “We have thought of adding an international category to our festival, after producers from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zambia showed interest to submit their short films, movies and documentaries.

"So on the international category through the films submitted, we have three awards to be given on Best Feature Film, Best Cinematographer and Best Director.”

Kuipa added that during the first day of the festival, film producers will be taught financial education and how best they can borrow money in banks and other financing institutions in order to boost their productions.

Philmon Kuipa ,Coordinator for the festival

Commenting on the development in a separate interview, one of the local film producers based in Kasungu Patiel Mizeck said it is now exciting that filmmakers in the country have found a platform where people will see and hear stories through films and get support in return.

“It’s now encouraging to produce movies and tell our Malawian stories as we have this platform now.

"Through Kasungu Film Collective we will submit our short film titled ‘Dying Inside’ which was produced last year so that we see how it goes and learn."

The festival which started last year has 27 local awards.

Standard Bank, Old Mutual and Multi-Choice Malawi are among many companies that are sponsoring the event.