Investing in the movie industry has been singled out as one of the solutions towards addressing high levels of unemployment rocking the country.

This has been said in Lilongwe during a two day European Film Festival Malawi that the European Union organised aiming at connecting on a deeper level as themes in films offer value and cultural understanding among people.

Head of Delegation for the EU in Malawi, Sandra Paesen said movies revel cultural diversity and a commitment to discuss issues that matter to people from family relations to endurance and the adversities of life.

“Through this first film festival we celebrate cultural diversity and a commitment to talk about things that really matter to people – from family relationships to survival and the hardships of life,” said Paesen.

On his part, President for Film Association of Malawi, Ezaius Mkandawire reiterated on the need for concerted efforts towards required investment into the film industry in order to grow the industry and create employment for the majority youth.

“There is evidence that if we put money in the creative sector there is always something else, we are talking about an industry that can offer employment especially young people” suggested Mkandawire.

Among other notable figures attending the festival in Lilongwe was a Hollywood actor Connie Chiume of the trending Black Panther.

The European Film Festival will hold three screenings in Lilongwe and Blantyre as platform of established and rising talents in movie making from Europe and Malawi

Apart from the movies, the festival will also have a series of morning workshops on production, financing, and marketing for filmmakers from all around Malawi

Movies like “King of the Belgian”, “Going South”, “The Hunters”, and “Petit Paysan” have been filmed during the festival in Lilongwe.