- Title: Film festival celebrates South Sudan's fledgling storytellers
- Date: 16th December 2019
- Summary: VARIOUS OF THE DIRECTOR OF JFF, SIMON BINGO AND SOUTH SUDAN EDUCATION AFFAIRS ADVISOR, JOHN GAI YOAH ENTERING THE CINEMA MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE CLAPPING VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WAVING MUSICIANS PERFORMING AT JIFF AWARDS CEREMONY
- Embargoed: 30th December 2019 14:32
- Keywords: Chatiem Matiop Juba Film Festival Simon Bingo South Sudan war Voice of Hope
- Location: JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN / UNKNOWN FILM LOCATIONS
- City: JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN / UNKNOWN FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: South Sudan
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Film
- Reuters ID: LVA003BA86T07
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: QUALITY AS INCOMING
It may lack the glitz and glamor of other film festivals held around the world, but for 23-year-old Chatiem Matiop who is the South Sudanese film-maker behind the film 'Voice of Hope', this is a dream come true.
Oil-producing South Sudan, which became an independent country in 2011, plunged into civil war in 2013 after President Salva Kiir sacked opposition leader Riek Machar as vice president. The conflict killed an estimated 400,000 people, triggered a famine and created Africa's biggest refugee crisis since the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
Matiop lives in the Kariadongo refugee camp in neighboring Uganda, but jumped at the chance to take part in the festival which is sponsored by the South Sudanese government, diplomatic corps, and UN agencies.
"For this festival, this is our first time to submit a movie. We hope to win and also move to the next level as we are preaching the word of peace and also educating the communities," Matiop said.
JFF has been held for four years now with more than 20 films submitted in 12 categories.
"When you have people like this who think ahead of their times, then you can say the future is bright because for us, my generation we are interested in things that have nothing to do with this country, but for them, they are interested in things that will build this and I think this is a time and challenge for us as leaders. How do we make what people want and not what we want, this is what the film festival is all about and I am very proud to be associated with it," said South Sudan Presidential Advisor on Education Affairs, Dr. John Gai Yoah.
Matiop won for the 'Best Film on Peace' for 'Voice of Hope' which centers around education, equality, and peace.
"I feel so excited that we have taken this award, yeah, actually this is our first time here in South Sudan to win an award and in future we expect to do more, to spread the message of peace, love, and unity to the people of South Sudan, to make our country a better place," he said.
(Tek Ogot, Edwin Waita) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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