Digicel boosts outreach of Namatan Short Film Festival

September 23, 2020 11:11 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC) and the Australian High Commission are pleased that Digicel Vanuatu continues to support the Namatan Short Film Festival, one of Vanuatu’s most popular annual cultural events.

During its four years of sponsorship, Digicel has helped the festival grow significantly through its nationwide and high quality telecommunication network.

Last year, over 8,000 people throughout the country enjoyed the locally-made short films including a record-breaking audience of 5,000 people at the finale in Port Vila.

In addition to assisting in ensuring the festival reached as many as possible, Digicel is also offering a latest generation smartphone and tablet for the second and third prize winners of this year’s competition.

Last week the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Vanuatu, Rupert Benson, officially handed over Vt500,000 to Australia’s High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Sarah deZoeten, and VBTC representative, Lilon Bongmatur, as a sponsor of the 2020 Namatan Short Film Festival.

“Thank you Digicel Vanuatu for supporting the Namatan Short Film Festival. In addition to helping us ensure the festival reaches as many people in Vanuatu as possible, your sponsorship for the second and third award prizes also helps attract very talented filmmakers each year,” said Australia’s High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Sarah deZoeten.

“On behalf of everyone at Digicel Vanuatu Ltd I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Australian High Commission and VBTC for including Digicel as a part of Vanuatu’s most popular annual cultural events.

“We really appreciate it. Given these changing times, I am sure the mobile will play an important role in reaching out to all of Digicel’s customers across the country.

“As we grow our network nationwide we will continue to expand the reach of the Namatan Film Festival on the largest network in Vanuatu,” said Digicel Vanuatu CEO Deepak Khanna.

The finalist short films will be screened across Vanuatu, including in secondary schools and at the festival’s finale which will be held on Saturday 5 December at the end of VBTC’s one-week Christmas-in-the-Park event.

“Here’s an opportunity for Vanuatu’s budding filmmakers to tell their own stories. It’s not hard to pick up your smartphone and produce a short film,” said the VBTC CEO, Francis Herman.

All short films have to be submitted to VBTC or to the Australian High Commission by 4.30pm on Monday 19 October 2020. Further information about the Namatan Short Film Festival including the entry form and terms and conditions are available on the Australian High Commission’s website: https://vanuatu.embassy.gov.au/pvla/events.html