“Namibian-German Collaboration Premieres at Hof International Film Festival

By Anne Hambuda

18 October 2025

‘Go Therefore And Learn’, a collaboration between filmmakers Daniela Fritz from Germany and Namibia’s Laudika ‘yaNdangi’ Hamutenya, will debut at the 59th Hof International Film Festival between 21 and 26 October in the state of Bavaria.

In an interview with The Weekender, Hamutenya, as well as producer Tangeni Amweelo and cinematographer Patience Mureti, share how their vision for this Fritz-directed documentary came to life, and what they hope audiences will take away from its exploration of faith, identity and history.

‘Go Therefore And Learn’ follows two young filmmakers from different parts of the world going on a joint journey to understand and reconcile their similar relationships with Christianity.

Hamutenya and Fritz met through a mutual friend and bonded over how they were raised in strictly religious environments, but always felt disconnected from the gospel.

According to Hamutenya, the documentary takes a critical look at missionary work in Namibia, which played a major role in the country’s colonisation in the 19th century.

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Through their journey, Hamutenya and Fritz encounter people, archives and stories that raise even more questions about faith, identity and history.

Hamutenya, an Ohangwena native, often makes films that explore themes of identity, masculinity and belonging within contemporary Namibia; subjects that reflect both his personal journey and the society he comes from.

Since graduating from Afda and Talents Durban, he has worked on five films as a writer, director and co-author. […]

He also co-wrote ‘Stray Flower’, a period short film centred on the Herero/Nama genocide, which premiered at Germany’s Max Ophüls Prize Festival in 2022. His films have been screened internationally in countries such as Namibia, South Africa, Germany, France, Türkiye and India.

“Through my work, I strive to tell authentic African stories that challenge perceptions and highlight the emotional and cultural layers of being a young Namibian today,” he explains, adding that the inclusion of a round-table discussion with Hildegard Titus, Lavinia Kapewasha and Muningandu Hoveka added depth and authenticity to the movie.

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Mureti says the goal was both to capture the spiritual and cultural layers of how Christianity arrived and impacted different tribes in Namibia.

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“’Go Therefore and Learn’ isn’t meant to provide clear answers but rather to open a conversation,” concludes Hamutenya. “It’s about understanding how a well-respected religion that shaped so much of his life also carried deep wounds, both past and present. For Daniela, it’s about reckoning with her German heritage and confronting the whitewashed narratives surrounding missionary work.””

• Full report “Namibian-German Collaboration Premieres at Hof International Film Festival” on the website of the Namibian (last checked in August 2026).

• Note also the announcement of the film screening in Windhoek on 12 August 2026 at 19:00 at Goethe Institute in the ‘Events’ section of this website.