President meets young filmmaker Emilie Chetty |04 January 2021

Ms Chetty during her meeting with President Ramkalawan (Photo: Thomas Meriton)

President Wavel Ramkalawan met young aspiring Seychellois cinematographer, Emilie Chetty, on New Year’s eve at State House.

Ms Chetty, who won the ‘Best Independent Short Film’ and also received an honourable mention for her short documentary ‘Desert Rose’ as Best Director at the Global Film Festival Awards in Los Angeles in 2019, owns a film production company label ‘Milli Madnesse Entertainment’ where she offers different services such as film directing, corporate videos, documentary, branding videos and music videos.

During the meeting Ms Chetty discussed with the president about her future projects which include making a feature film with Seychellois actors.

“We also discussed making documentaries which will focus on our wetlands and marine life,” said the filmmaker.

She added that the president has expressed his full support for her project.

“I’m really happy for the support that the president has given me because as a young filmmaker not many resources are available so this will be a good thing for my future projects,” she said.

President Ramkalawan commended Ms Chetty as an exemplary young lady with an amazing talent. The President congratulated her for the different awards she won, which has made Seychelles proud and wished her all the best in her future endeavours.

“I am so proud of your achievements which have also made Seychelles proud. I want to encourage you to pursue further in what you intend to do. You have my support and that of the government with your future plans in filmmaking and with documentaries on Seychelles that will make other countries know more about us and for our people to know more about their own country. What you are doing should serve as an inspiration to other young people,” said President Ramkalawan.

Though Ms Chetty has a few movies in her catalogue, her more critically acclaimed movie is ‘Desert Rose’ which is a tale of treasure and love.

A passionate treasure hunter, Jay Wolf played by Curtis Walker and his partner Molly played by Shaunyl Benson, have an extraordinary life searching for treasure together, exploring shipwrecks conquering underwater caves. However, their lives take a drastic turn when they are forced to look death in the eye.

Ms Chetty wrote the story, directed and produced the film in addition to editing it herself. She was also responsible for designing the costumes and taking charge of the wardrobe.

The movie was screened in December at Deepam cinema and will be aired soon on SBC.

Christophe Zialor