United States of America-based Malawian filmmaker Victor Kamwendo has produced a documentary series Playing Fields which premiered yesterday on Olympics.com.

The series celebrates and encourages young and up-and-coming African athletes who aspire to compete at the next Olympics.

Kamwendo (R) and crew captured while filming the series

In an interview, the film-maker, who left Malawi for US at the age of 13, said Playing Fields is an original six-part documentary series that gives African athletes’ resilience a human face.

“It introduces a new wave of athletes paving the way in their sports across the African continent, discovering their credible stories of perseverance, optimism, and the strength of human spirit,” he said.

Kamwendo said he got involved in the series because he works as a producer at XTR Studio in Los Angeles and they partnered with the Olympic Channel on the project.

“As an African, I wanted to make sure that we tell the most beautiful stories, but also to shoot the continent in the most cinematic way as possible to showcase the beauty of Africa and its culture and traditions,” he said.

The series is now streaming at Olympics.com where audiences from around the world can access.

Commenting on the development of the local movie industry, Kamwendo said creatives must stick to being authentic as they tell Malawian stories.

“I believe Malawi has amazing artists and all they need is support. We need programmes that invest and help artists grow,” he said.

Kamwendo said Malawians should look out for more from him as he is a proud Malawian and will also take part in a new local movie titled Misnomer which he shot in Malawi last year.

For the Playing Fields documentary, Kamwendo travelled to six countries, namely Burundi, Gabon, Nigeria, Ghana, Angola and South Africa. He directs two of the six episodes of Angola and South Africa.

The documentary opens with a commentator explaining some of the key issues that hinder growth of sports and athletes in Africa.

“I want to represent Ghana at the Olympics and win a gold medal. I think the country needs that,” says one of the athletes Khalifa from Nima district, who juggles school with rigorous training to play for Nima Kings FC.

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