From the 18th-20th of March 2011 Sesotho Media & Development (SM&D) hosted the first edition of the Lesotho Film Festival. Funded by Movies that Matter, in Amsterdam the festival was held at the Pioneer Mall Cinema in Maseru and outreach screenings were conducted at Limkokwing University and the National University of Lesotho.

The line-up included a selection of films dealing with human rights issues, courtesy of Tri-Continental Film Festival. Iron Ladies of Liberia and Please Vote for Me from the Why Democracy series were also screened as part of the festival.

The response to both of these films was overwhelmingly positive, with Please Vote for Me leaving the audiences in stitches! These films were also screened during the outreach screenings at Limkokwing University. The festival provided local film-makers with the opportunity to showcase their work and allowed audiences to meet the film-makers in person.

Overall the festival was a huge success, drawing close to 700 visitors. Sesotho Media & Development hopes to make this festival an annual event in Maseru.
SM&D is an NGO based in Lesotho that specialises in the innovative use of film for educational purposes on a range of developmental topics.

SM&D operates two mobile cinema vehicles, allowing films to be screened in the remotest of areas.

Written by Magnus Kossman from Sesotho Media & Development (sesothomedia@gmail.com)