ICAPA, OPAC & SWIFT sign historic MoU
With the aim of helping African women tell their stories, break barriers and participate in international collaborations in the global film industry, three influential women-led film organisations, ICAPA, SWIFT and OPAC, have entered into a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The MoU aims to foster cooperation between the three organisations in order to address longstanding inequities in the film industry. Tsitsi Dangarembga, founding director at ICAPA Trust, was the driving force behind this landmark agreement, which was conceived during meetings between representatives of the three organisations at the International images Film Festival for Women (IIFF) in Harare last year. IIFF is presented annually by ICAPA Trust. According to Dangarembga, founder of IIFF “It is necessary to conceive of, implement and support efforts that tackle the inequalities of this sector in content and practice in our striving towards more equal societies.”
In a speech at the signing ceremony, SWIFT Board Chairperson Natalie Delport Louw called the signing "a significant day for Women in Film and Media". Louw went on to outline how the MOU increases SWIFT's capacity to advocate for gender parity and intersectionality, both in front of and behind the camera. She further highlighted that the partnership would ensure even more Women’s voices are heard, their talent recognised, and their stories told through expanding opportunities available to women in a traditionally male-dominated industry, with a particular focus on creating pathways for black women in a predominantly white sector.
Souad Houssein, founding director of OPAC said, "Developing African cinema and improving the position of African women in this industry are among the objectives of many regional and international organisations and institutions. However, I am convinced that African cinema experts can also contribute to this noble objective and can take on these questions in order to find solutions to the marginalisation of African women in the cinema and audiovisual industries who wish to see their skills and careers grow. Finding remedies for this marginalisation is the objective of the partnership entered into between ICAPA, SWIFT and OPAC."
The MOU will see the three organisation co-operating to exhibit films by women, particularly African women, through a festival initiative powered by ICAPA's IIFF. The collaboration will also initiate capacity building programmes for African women and will recognise the work of African women filmmakers with a series of prizes.
