The annual Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF2018) 20th edition, scheduled for September 1 to 8 in Harare, is a showcase to enhance appreciation of local culture and history, organisers have said.
By Style Reporter
Running under the theme Narratives from Africa, the motion picture fiesta will, in partnership with corporate sponsors, embassies as well as local and international independent filmmakers, screen out a full programme of films relevant to the theme.
In a statement, festival director Nakai Matema said they would exclusively focus on Zimbabwean and African films as a way of cultivating and embracing African culture.
“It is high time for us to celebrate and harness our own culture, heritage and history as Africa’s place begins to take centre stage on the global stage,” said Matema.
To that effect, ZIFF2018 will kick off with the locally-produced comedy Cook Off as the opening film.
This, according to Matema, is in conformity with the African theme that various embassies are also going to implement through hosting Afro -centric films.
“In order to embrace ourselves as Africans and develop the arts in Zimbabwe, we are specifically opening the festival with a local film for the first time in over a decade,” she said.
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Produced by Joe Njagu and directed by Thomas Brickhill, the star-studded romantic comedy features South Africa-based Zimbabwean actress Tendaiishe Chitima, musician Tehn Diamond, legendary actress Jesesi Mungoshi, poet Chirikure Chirikure, Anne Nhira, Kudzai Sevenzo and Michael Kudakwashe.
To date, the film has graced various regional and international festivals, including the just-ended Durban International Film Festival as well as the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, the film forum will present an exciting industry programme featuring workshops, seminars, discussions, pitch sessions and collaborations, among industry stakeholders. As usual, support programmes like Outreach to Educate will also facilitate screenings and workshops in high-density areas.
