Film Association of Malawi (FAMA) says it is committed to rejuvenating cinema culture, through partnerships with existing cinema theaters that are non-operational, or those with halls that can be turned to cinema theaters.

FAMA President, Dorothy Kingston, has disclosed this to Zodiak Online after making partnerships with two cinema centers in Blantyre, with sitting capacity ranging from 200,000 to 700,000.

Kingston says the movie industry is growing, a development that has exposed some existing challenges such as the need to restore cinemas.

"Recently, some movie premiers were done in flat spaces that are not ideal, the audience was unsatisfied since others could not properly see the screens.

"This has prompted us as Film Association of Malawi to start entering into partnerships with cinema owners, so that we should bring back the cinema culture," she narrates.

The FAMA President reveals the organization aims that all districts in the country should have cinema, saying this will make Malawians appreciate the talent of local filmmakers and actors.

For his part, filmmaker Shemu Joyah, hails the initiative by FAMA, stressing that previously such undertakings failed because they were being carried out by individuals.

Joyah, who has produced and directed a number of movies including 'The Last Fishing Boat and Seasons of a Life', laments that currently, filmmakers struggle to get profits from their works.

"Unlike in our neighboring countries. We lack a formal distribution for films, this has left movie producers in losses. Later, they fail to come up with another production," the filmmaker emphasizes.

He adds that previously the country had thirteen cinema centres, and believes cinema culture can become fashionable again.

At the moment, the number of movies being produced in the country has surged, a thing that is making critics believe the industry can do wonders, with proper support.