Our name Ndinadsawapanga pronounced Nah-jah-pang-ga means
‘I Will Tell’. It comes from the Senna language, spoken in the northern provinces of Mozambique.
5 years ago, festival director, Jenny Lee, met an inspirational young woman called Anel on the plains of Thoera in one of the impoverished regions of Mozambique.
Anel shared her dreams to travel, to learn to speak English, to see how other people lived and to help those in need. For a moment her eyes lighted up, her elegant straight back became even straighter, her smile brightened - in fact, her entire, usually demure, demenaour became enlivened at the thoughts of her future.
But it wasn't long before someone else in the group reminded her that women in their community are not allowed to do the one thing that could make all those things happen, get an education. It was a luxury they could not afford.
Anel's countenance changed, her shoulders drooped and her voice became quieter. When we asked what she thought about that she said simply that she would submit to the needs of her husband. When we asked what she would do about her dreams, she replied "Ndinadsawapanga mschool".
Our interpreter explained that she meant that she would tell anyone and everyone she would meet about the importance of getting an education and she would be empowered by her telling.
So 5 years later, Anel's dream lives on, in part, at the I Will Tell film festival which she named. The films we choose to show, raise awareness of global and local issues alike: relationships, peace, war, poverty, hope, violence, disenfranchisement, racism and reconciliation.
Since that fateful conversation 5 years ago, thousands have joined the conversation with us from different races, ages and walks of life. We hope that this year you will too.
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