Windhoek — The Namibia Broadcasting Cooperation (NBC) is inviting all local producers to submit their films, movies, documentaries and comedies for broadcasting on NBC television.

The screening of local products started in the beginning of October this year as part of a drive to systematically increase local content on NBC networks. The movies are screened on NBC televisions every Sunday from seven O'clock and repeated every Thursday at ten O'clock (10h00). The Head Corporate Affairs (HCA) at the NBC, Umbi Karuaihe-Upi, says the broadcasting of the films and movies are part of their mandate to provide local content, and also to localise their content from external producers. "The NBC is driven to offer the viewers content according to their desired needs. Besides the NBC recognise there are a lot of talents in the film industry, thus screening locally produced films and documentaries are part of their commitment to grow and develop the local film industry," she says.

The films and documentaries currently being screened on NBC have different value additions, besides being entertaining. "Being a public broadcaster, we are mandated to inform and educate as well as entertain. The educational values supplied by these local films are often based on real life circumstances. It includes social issues like unemployment, poverty, substance abuse, etc. These local productions are produced by young Namibian producers, and this allows for a lateral understanding with information dissemination, especially speaking to other youngsters through their creative works," she says.

Karuaihe-Upi adds that this project is just the beginning, and as time goes by, it will be bigger and better since they are planning to increase the schedule to about 65-80% on local content. The films are currently broadcasted on a special primetime slot to cater for a diverse set of Namibian viewers.

According to the NBC's Director-General, Albertus Auchomab, since the local movies have always been part of NBC offering for many years as and when the broadcaster could not afford to purchase them, they now have a dedicated effort and slot since October