In 2019, the festival expanded within the Southern African region, increasing its outreach and gained regional importance.

"It has always been our wish to open the platform to content buyers who would acquire the content during the festival period, making it very valuable to the filmmakers and increasing their chances for financial gain for their projects," says Daniel Mwale, co-founder of the Sotambe Film Institute.

"The rapid digitalisation and mushrooming streaming platforms are transforming the film industry into a business industry and that is exactly what we need," says Martina Mwanza, Sotambe Film Institute's co-founder and managing director.

"The amount of content to feed the streaming services available today and in the near future means that local producers have never had more opportunity to produce films and gain instant revenues," adds Mwanza.

"The Mingletainment team are privileged to be part of this partnership that will directly result in the benefiting to the arts, film and general content producers. Mingletainment is a proudly Zambian digital and streaming platform with the vision to become the home to Zambian and regional content," says Tivo Shikapwashya, a Mingletainment Partner.

"With the objective of offering a strong financial and resource support system to Content Partners, Mingletainment is well poised to be the home of Zambian and regional content," adds Shikapwashya.

Thembelihle Nyathi, a content acquisition executive from Exceptional Rights, (the owners of the short form movie service CineMagic) says that she was very impressed with the Zambian content received so far.

"We are very excited about this development that will lead to profitability for the Zambian filmmakers and expand their current market opportunities," concludes Mwanza.

For more information, visit www.sotambe.org