The Sunday Mail
Zimbabwe’s premier motion picture event, the Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF), will for the first time spread its wings to Harare’s high-density suburbs, in a move that is set to connect the festival with the people.
The festival, which runs from October 4 to 11, initially takes place throughout the capital before embarking on a countrywide tour.
Now in its 16th year, the festival will see screenings taking place in Mabvuku, Tafara, Highfield, Dzivaresekwa and Mufakose.
Popular bus ranks like Copacabana and Fourth Street have also been targeted by the organisers of the festival as they seek to reach more people.
Elton Mjanana, the festival co-ordinator, said they had decided to take the festival to the high-density suburbs “as it is where the people are”.
“For ZIFF to have any significance and relevance to the people it purports to serve, it has to take the product to them. This product is film and the ghetto masses are the consumers.
“Many a time we have festivals not only locally but even regionally where even if it is a full house, it is a full house of filmmakers watching fellow filmmakers’ films. We have decided to strike a balance between creating a festival for industry professionals and for the people,” explained Mjanana.
He added: “So whilst our industry programme is strong enough with a series of very attractive and poignant workshops and sessions, screenings will ensure a very wide consumption of the films.”
The festival, whose main venues are the ZIFF Hub, Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton, Alliance Francaise, Book Café, Young Africa Centre in Chitungwiza, Theatre in the Park, has in the past failed to make an impact on the nation.
However, the new team, which is led by the festival director, Nigel Munyati, is determined to grow the festival to unprecedented levels by bringing on board previously unrecognised filmmakers and taking it to the people.
Said Mjanana: “It only makes sense to have screenings in the ghetto since that is where the majority of the people live. Filmmakers make their films so that as many people can watch them and that is exactly what we intend to do. For us as a festival and the filmmakers concerned, we have realised that it is better to achieve results by taking our product to the people rather than hoping that the people will come to us.”
After the Harare edition of the festival, ZIFF will also be taken to different towns and cities around the country.
“We will have satellite editions in the months of October and November in Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo and Mutare. The festival is focused on driving ZIFF’s vision of ‘A Nation That Celebrates a Culture of Film’ and mission to ‘Create a Dynamic Film Culture’. These ideals necessitate the establishment and delivery of a viable and vibrant film industry in Zimbabwe,” said Munyati.
He said that Zimbabwean filmmakers were frustrated by the absence of meaningful returns in their craft and thus he has made it his mission to ensure that he turns around their fortunes.
“Last year’s edition affirmed ZIFF’s commitment to lead the revival of the film industry, a role that we hope to consolidate this year. ZIFF 2014 is intended to place ZIFF in its rightful place as the premium local and international film showcase.
“ZIFF 2014 will address film industry fundamentals. We will address issues of consumption and how we can encourage growth in theatre audiences and general film distribution. Our community outreach programme will present over 100 screenings in selected high-density suburbs in Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru and Masvingo.
“These screenings will all be preceded by writing and directing workshops meant to instil and recapture a culture of film in our communities. This is something not entirely new but a critical process that has long been forgotten. The outreach programme, no doubt, presents a huge opportunity for us to create a film audience in marginalised areas,” said Munyati.
A number of workshops and other specialised programmes will also be held.
“We are also aware of the fact that industry professionals need festivals such as ours to reach out to each other for purposes of knowledge exchanges, networking and collaborations. The Film Forum will present a powerful industry programme that will offer filmmaking master classes and industry workshops that include: Documentary Film Making, Pitching, Co-Production, Film Funding, Mini Input TV, Digital Distribution of Film and Dialogue on the establishment of a Film Commission.
“Digital Distribution of Film and the Dialogue on the establishment of a Film Commission speak pointedly to the direction in which film is moving. Many other African countries are steps ahead of Zimbabwe.
“Participants will include major players in these fields from around Africa,” he added.
He said his organisation had paid particular attention to the quality of films that will be screened during the festival.
“A film festival’s reputation depends on the quality of films it screens and the level of organisation.
“ZIFF has paid particular attention to both. Content is true to our Universal African theme; films by Africans that address African issues, all with universal appeal.
“ZIFF will be using state of the art Event Management software, Eventival, that will ensure the smooth management of all programmes,” he said.
The festival will see a number of artistes including superstar Oliver Mtukudzi and the internationally travelled Mokoomba performing.
