SAFMA Documentary Film Festival 2009

SAFMA Maldives and Maldives Film Association are pleased to launch SAFMA Documentary Film Festival 2009 in the Maldives.
The inauguration function is to be held on 6th August 2009, Thursday from 1600hrs to 1700hrs at Seminar Room, Youth Centre and is open to all interested individuals & production houses.
The purpose of the national level festival is to select two films to be sent to the South Asian Interactive Documentary Festival (SAIDF) 2009, held in Mumbai, India from 27th to 29th November 2009.
The theme for local film makers in Environment, and how climate changes, as a result of global warming, now pose an imminent threat to the human existence and our environment. Climate change is also affecting the socio economic development in South Asia, especially the Maldives, and the need to preserve our traditionally eco-friendly life styles and natural resources has never been greater.
The winning entry receives US$1000, in addition to the opportunity to represent the Maldives at the SAIDF 2009.

For more information please contact Irushaadha A. Sattar, 7784307

SAFMA Maldives Media Statement

SAFMA Maldives expresses concern over the recent attacks on media personnel, and calls on all concerned parties to respect the ideals of freedom of expression and media enshrined in the Maldives Constitution.
The three incidents that are of concern to this Association had occured within the scope of 10 days are the attack on Haveeru Executive Editor, Hiriga Ahmed Zahir while covering the unrest near Parliament, the protest against Minivan News following an article published in the online English news site by its Editor, Mariyam Omidi and the most recent case of verbal and physical abuse to Ibrahim Rasheed, Newscaster from Television Maldives on Monday night.
SAFMA Maldives also reiterates that it is not necessary that all media organizations share the same opinions and editorial policies, and believe that the public should be able to formulate its own opinion based on the different viewpoints and information accessible from the various media, and call on the Government, political parties and the general public to respect journalists working to acquire true information in order to carry out a public service.

Congratulations to the new Executive Board

SAFMA Maldives Annual General Meeting was held yesterday afternoon at the Seminar Room in Youth Centre.
After the announcement of the Annual Report for 2008, and the budget report for 2009, the Executive Board for the Maldives Chapter was elected.
Mariyam Suhana, Chairperson of THE VOICE was elected President, and Fayyaz Faisal, Editor of Jazeera Daily elected as the Vice President, with VTV Video Journalist Zeena Zahir appointed Secretary General. Shifza Mustafa, Newscaster for VTV was elected Deputy General Secretary and Aishath Shaheen from Haveeru Daily was appointed Executive Member.
The first meeting of the new Executive Board will be held later this month. SAFMA Maldives thanks the work of the previous Executive Board, and especially the former President of SAFMA Maldives, Aminath Najeeb for her untiring contribution to the association.
SAFMA also thanks MADULU for its assistance in setting up SAFMA Maldives in the country, and the continued assistance extended to the association throughout the past two years.

Annual General Meeting postponed

SAFMA Maldives first Annual General Meeting has been postponed to 30 June 2009, as the necessary number of members required for having the meeting didn't show up.
The next meeting is scheduled for 30 June 2009, Tuesday from 1400hrs to 1600hrs at Seminar Room, Youth Centre.
Members - Kindly RSVP your attendance to 7784307 or 9779400 or email to safma.maldives@gmail.com

SAFMA Maldives registered

After two years of working under MADULU, Safma Maldives has finally been registered at Ministry of Home Affairs.

As per regulations, SAFMA Maldives will be electing the Executive Board during its General Annual Meeting to be held on 17 June 2009, from 2100 to 2330hrs at Youth Centre Seminar Room.

The following positions are on the Executive Board, and members can contest for these posts and will be elected with majority vote.

1. President
2. Vice President
3. General Secretary
4. Deputy General Secretary
5. Executive Member

Interested members are free to start their campaigning for these positions.

MA South Asian Studies

Under Madanjeet Singh's Foundation - Centre for South Asian Studies is providing two fellowships (one boy and one girl) to undertake MA South Asian Studies program at Pondicherry University.
The scholarship covers the entire tuition fees, travel (round trip economy airfare), boarding and lodging at Pondicherry University for two years.
To be eligible for the fellowship, candidates should have secured at least 50% in their graduate degree program (any degree).
Interested candidates will find more information on the program at www.pondiuni.edu.in or by emailing safma.maldives@gmail.com
Deadline for submission of CVs and copies of certificates is 11th June 2009, Thursday

BA in Visual Arts Scholarship

BeaconHouse National University in Pakistan is offering a 4 years Visual Arts BA program Scholarship from their University.
Two positions are available from this institution for this course- one for a male and another for a female candidate.
Candidates must have completed 12 years of school and demonstrate talent for art in the form of a portfolio of work, which can be shown electronically.
Selection Procedure: Candidates shortlisted will be called in for an interview to SAF Advisory Board after which final admission list will be drawn up.

DEADLINE: 11th June 2009
Please send your applications with CV and supporting documents to:
South Asia Foundation
c/o SAFMA Maldives
G.Uthurubin,
2nd Floor,
Alikilegefaanu Magu,
Male’