Movie lovers have something to look forward to next month. Preparations for the second edition of the Mashariki African Film Festival (MAFF) slated for March 12 are on course. 

The festival which was first held last year will showcase movies from over ten countries across Africa.

This year's edition under the theme " Cinema Unites Africa " will screen only short films from Rwandan film makers while their counterparts will screen in the other categories; feature films and documentaries .

Aaron Niyomwungeri, MAFF’s event manager, explained that the festival is organised by a team of film makers who submit their feature films and documentaries to international festivals. They are not allowed to submit their movies to a festival they are organising.

"Movies that are sold on the street don't meet the festival standards and therefore can’t compete. Some don't have subtitles and not all on the jury speak Kinyarwanda,” he said.

He added that steps are being taken to help other film-makers improve the standards of their movies. The local movies submitted last year were not to the standards of those from the other countries.

He also said that this year's edition will have screenings and workshops at one location, The Office in Kiyovu, unlike last year when they went to the provinces.

"That was our first time and we learnt a lot about organising a festival. We went up country but we were strained beyond our capacity, so this year we decided to come together in one place and organise a real festival, we might go back to the provinces someday,” he said.

Niyomwungeri urges movie fans to come and see what the rest of Africa is producing and also take part in developing the country's film industry as supporters and critics.

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