Disaster Strikes at ‘Is the President Dead?’ Premiere; Organizers Scramble to Make Amends
While GOSM scrambles to salvage the situation in the capital, plans are now also being redrawn in Blantyre, where a second premiere was scheduled for this coming Sunday.
LILONGWE, Malawi - What was intended to be a milestone night celebrating the resuscitation of Malawi’s ailing film industry ended instead with outrage and accusations after a hotly anticipated movie premiere was cut short by technical difficulties before the ending could be screened on December 1, writes Winston Mwale.
The Friday debut of “Is the President Dead?”—a political thriller focused on succession drama after the mysterious hospitalisation of the nation’s leader—was expected to showcase the growing sophistication of Malawian cinema before a who’s who audience from across society.
But those hopes crumbled after a series of technical glitches prevented the conclusion from being shown, leaving moviegoers bewildered about the unfinished story’s ending.
In the aftermath, organisers have been struggling to limit damage and quell public anger over the fiasco.
Isaac Misoya, executive director of the GOSM which hosted the event at the Bingu International Convention Centre, issued a statement on Saturday conveying his “deepest apologies for the unforeseen technical interruptions that marred the premiere.”
While not elaborating on the specific causes, Misoya acknowledged that event staff had been “unable to promptly address the issues” and vowed that “a new date for the Lilongwe premiere will be announced shortly.”
Attendees were urged to retain their tickets for a makeup show.
While GOSM scrambles to salvage the situation in the capital, plans are now also being redrawn in Blantyre, where a second premiere was scheduled for this coming Sunday.
Misoya announced that the country’s commercial city showing would be postponed “to effectively address and rectify the technical challenges” and ensure “a seamless and enjoyable movie experience.”
But even as GOSM seeks to make amends, the organisation has come under scorching criticism for allowing the prestige event to unravel so dramatically.
In a sternly worded statement, Malawi’s Film Association chastised GOSM for the “bad cinematic experience” on display, blaming “the oversight of crucial technical steps” for the breakdown.
The statement, issued Saturday, excoriated event overseers for failing to meet “industry standards,” arguing the fumbled premiere “does not align with the integrity and ideals” underpinning their body’s work nurturing Malawi’s film sector.
With another chance at a first impression now hanging in the balance, all sides face an anxious wait to learn whether the next “Is the President Dead?” premiere can redeem this false start or if the disruption will end up being the enduring headline for a project that had much higher hopes.