Motsamai Mokotjo
The grim reality is that Lesotho does not have a single cinema making screening and post-production a challenge in the film and documentary space.
The last one closing its door over a decade ago has forced Li Eme Ka Lekoa the film, according to its synopsis, to tell the compelling story of a daughter who faces the traditional hurdle of being unable to inherit her father’s chieftainship upon his death, Executive Director, Mpho Letima, to look in neighbouring states.
The most unique challenge facing Lesotho’s film industry is the lack of cinemas in the country. This absence of traditional distribution channels has forced the producer to look into the neighbouring countries, South Africa and Botswana, to afford the film to be premiered in these two different countries as a requirement to qualify for submission at the Oscars and to explore alternative distribution channels and platforms.
In the absence of local cinemas, film festivals have become a vital avenue for showcasing Lesotho’s cinematic works.
Li Eme ka Lekoa has already been submitted for several Academy Award film festivals, African film festivals, human rights film festivals, and festivals that give light to work about women providing crucial exposure for the film and the country’s potentially growing industry, Letima told NewsDay this week.
She further revealed that after they are also exploring digital platforms and community screenings as an avenue to showcase the film. As for post-production cost, she indicated that they were not prepared since theirs is a learning curve of how to navigate the tides.
The executive director further indicated that the technical aspect of post-production editing was also a challenge since the scarcity of experienced post-production collaborators within the country led to some working with different in-country post-production skills for purposes of establishing and identifying local talent, “so we are not reliant on outside expertise”.
Sound design and the final mix proved to be adding significantly to both costs and timelines, which affected our budget and schedule.
Independent film director Philip Leteka resonated with Letima about the challenges of having cinemas in Lesotho.
“It is as though we have been forgotten. It is as though cinema never really had a chance. A handful of those filmmakers who had at one point been resiliently outnumbered against the tide have chosen to go elsewhere,” Leteka told independent publication Afrokritik recently.
“I will not be building cinemas, the physical buildings, but I am interested in building a more resilient community of young filmmakers, as I believe that to be the place where Lesotho’s cinema will reside,” he said.
Another filmmaker, Silas Monyatsi, trusts that change is on the horizon, noting that: “What we’re seeing is the birth of a unique film culture in Lesotho. It may not follow the traditional path, but it’s one that’s authentically ours.”
