Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. MOFFAT Takadiwa, a globally-acclaimed visual artist, curator and manager of the Mbare Art Space, has labelled the just-ended European Union Film Festival Zimbabwe (EUFilmFestZW) 10th Harare edition the best ever.
The film fiesta began last Friday with Service to Heart (2024), a Zambian drama, at the Mbare Art Space Main Arena in Harare and wound up with the Zambian multi-award-winning film On Becoming a Guinea Fowl.
The film fest, whose Harare edition ended on June 1, ran under the theme She Means Business.
The EUFilmFestZW continues in Bulawayo from tomorrow to Sunday.
The Mbare Art Space opening night had a myriad of activities, which included a musical performance dubbed “The Mixer” by Eorupean Union green ambassador Mary Anibal and Othnell Mangoma.
The evening wrapped up with the much-awaited awards ceremony, which included the announcement of the Ultrashort & Bioskop Short Film Competition winners and award-winning film screenings before Anibal, Mangoma and Worae, branded as “Celestial Ecstasy Trio”, returned to the stage until late night.
A brief about the two opening and closing films
Service to Heart (2024) is a Zambian drama film centred on a mother caring for her seriously ill child, who is contemplating euthanasia, for eight years.
The film was written and directed by Paul Wilo.
The cast includes Blessings Luwisha, Dixon Mumba, Cecilia Mwansa, Hildah Nangoyi and Manson Sikela.
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (Zambia, 2024) was written and directed by Rungano Nyoni and produced by Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe and Tim Cole.
In the film, Shula discovers her uncle’s body and, as funeral proceedings unfold, she and her cousins uncover buried family secrets.
The film explores themes of trauma, grief and societal expectations.
Takadiwa admitted that the EUFilmFestZW had improved immensely, adding that it showcased an assortment of quality films, including several other art forms.
“I think this year has marked so many improvements, especially when considering the quality of films, stage design and a better engagement of societies. Film should be the easiest medium used to connect people and their societies,” he said.
“One of the things we need is to have the government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the corporate world come together in their full strength in support of the film and the creative industry at large. The Mbare Art Space is a central space which is very much conducive for film and many other cultural activities.
“The arts and creative sector have in many ways helped in getting people to find areas of connection. We had a good exhibition in the star building from youthful creatives.”
Online workshops
Tsitsi Grace Madhodha, a media professional with experience spanning over two decades in film and television production, hosted an online masterclass on storytelling, strategy and sustainable impact, which benefited NGOs, media teams, creatives, communication officers and anyone looking to scale storytelling for business or impact.
Mbare Art Space workshops
Globally celebrated actress and filmmaker Sibongile Mlambo on May 29 conducted an acting workshop.
Mlambo is best known for her TV roles in Siren, Lost in Space and Teen Wolf.
She produced the short film The Sadness in Freedom, and she is working on her next short film, Veins of the Field, in collaboration with her siblings.
She can also be seen on the ongoing 50 Cent’s hit show Power Book III: Raising Kanan as the smart, confident and business-savvy executive, Imani Okoye.
Outside film, Sibongile is a Rotary International ambassador for promoting global unity, refugees, women and child rights.
Renowned film teacher Rumbi Katedza also held a workshop on best ways of scripting and filming a documentary on May 29 and 30.
Throughout the immersive documentary filmmaking workshops, participants had hands-on experience on various documentary styles and learnt how to capture the truth in compelling innovative ways.
The Input Conference curated by Alex Gwaze
Angeline Dimingo delivered a lecture on adapting to artificial intelligence (AI) in the Zimbabwean creative space, which was aimed at leveraging on the opportunities and challenges presented by AI in the local arts industry.
Dimingo is a multi-award-winning filmmaker, actress and model with 25 years of experience in the creative arts industry.
She is the founder of the Zimbabwe Female Arts Practitioners Platform, board member for the Zimbabwe Film Industry Development Platform and former member for Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe.
Her notable works include Marrying the Devil, Soul City, Lobola and Studio 263.
Celebrated film producer Amanda Ranganawa also made a presentation on film as a catalyst for change, while Tendaishe Chitima lectured on Pan African Cinema Streaming Era on May 31.
Filamu Shorts (Mbare Art Space Harare)
A curated selection of African films by Violet Tafadzwa Senderai were screened from mid-day to late afternoon on May 31.
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