Rumbi Katedza’s new website brings Zimbabwe film to one place
Rumbi Katedza
Zimbabwean Filmmaker, Rumbi Katedza has launched a new website that archives information on the Zimbabwean film industry. The Zimbo Jam caught up with her and found out more about this new project.
Tell us about the idea behind the website?
ZimbabweFilm.com is a labour of love that I am so proud of. Having worked in film for well over a decade now, I have had the opportunity to travel to many festivals and film markets, and everywhere I go, people are pleasantly surprised to hear that there actually are films being made in Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately, as is the case in other African film industries, it is very difficult to access our films because of poor distribution networks.
ZimbabweFilm.com is a platform to market films and filmmakers from Zimbabwe so that people can learn about their work and access their films. It is a site where filmmakers can network, and ultimately, the website is there to encourage increased production opportunities in Zimbabwe. Read more
Hats off to THE PSYKOZ and co.
I braced the chilly Friday night of September 12 to attend the Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) Short Film Project Opening night in Harare. I was so curious to know what was going to be screened or rather what our own local writers, directors and actors had in store for us. What I watched was not bad at all. For me, only two movies were in a class of their own- brilliant. These are Zimbabwe The Best Country and Akakodzera Ndiani?
The Short Film Project (SFP) included a total of five films.
The movie which got most people off their seats, bursting into laughter was written by THE PSYKOZ Of Prince Edward High School and directed by Patience Gamu Tawengwa. Read more
ZIFF hosts Brazilian Focus
Marcel Izidoro (Photo: fungaijames.com)
In collaboration with the Embassy of Brazil and Brazilian filmmaker, Marcel Izidoro, the Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) will present a Brazilian Focus characterised by a series of screenings and masterclasses to be held at the Zimbabwe German Society and the ZIFF offices.
Setting the tone for the Focus are the masterclasses starting on August 28 with topics covered being various technical aspects of filmmaking, including, film directing and script writing, film editing, cinematography and sound.
Selected participants will be mentored by four film practitioners, Paolo Gregori, Azul Serra, Andre Soler and Eduardo Izique. Read more
Flanders flounders at ZIFF
Flanders poster
I can’t believe that this film has actually won two awards. This has to be one of the most poorly executed feature films I have ever watched.
In Flanders (or Flandres in French) a quiet farm hand, Demester (Samuel Boidin) who has difficulty expressing his feelings for his nymphomaniac girlfriend Barbe (Adélaïde Leroux), is sent off to war, but not before we- and he- witness her punishing him for his lack of emotion by sleeping with another man his car in broad daylight, outside a pub where she, Demester and two other friends were having a drink.
Picture this: Barbe and this guy have been eyeballing each other in the pub when she gets up and walks over to him, totally ignoring Demester and co. After exchanging a few words, they walk out to this guy’s car and start getting it on. When Demester and co come out, there they are in plain view, going at it. Read more
ZIFF 2008- the reels are rolling
Nakai Matema
Friday evening saw the launch of the 11th edition of the Zimbabwe International Film Festival at a function held at the 7 Arts Theatre in Harare.
Over 300 people attended the opening ceremony whose highlight was the screening of the American film “The Visitor” starring Zimbabwean actress Danai Gurira.
This year’s festival is themed “The Art of Film, Film as Art.”
Festival Director, Nakai Matema, explains: “This year we acknowledge how film incorporates every other genre of the arts, from the literary, to music, to visual and to the performing arts. Film encompasses and relies on all these forms of art, and so this year we celebrate and show our respect for our fellow artistes.” Read more
Zim actress, Danai Gurira, stars in American film at ZIFF
The Visitor stars Zimbabwean actress Danai Gurira
Zimbabwean actress Danai Gurira stars in the film “The Visitor” which was the opening film at this year’s edition at ZIFF. We last saw Danai at HIFA 2006 when she performed the play “In the Continuum” with Nikkole Slater.
A synopsis of the film: Years after losing his wife, 62-year-old Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) has also lost his passion for writing and teaching. In an effort to fill the empty void that his life has become, Walter makes a half-hearted attempt to learn to play classical piano.
Later, when Walter’s college sends him to a conference in Manhattan, he is surprised to discover that a young couple has moved into his seldom-used apartment in the city. Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and his Senegalese girlfriend Zainab (Danai Gurira) have fallen victims to an elaborate real-estate scam, and as a result they no longer have a place to call home. Read more
On The Zimbo Jam- Power FM Top Twenty- 20 March 2010Presented by DJ Chilli (Hazvine Sakarombe) on Power FM. 10:00-12:00hrs, 20 March 2010 Position Song Artist 20 Battle Field Jordin Sparks 19 If We Ever Meet Again Timberland ft Katy Peri 18 Falling Underdog 17 Emperor’s State of Mind Jay Z 16 How Low Luda Chris
- Famba Zvakanaka Sam MtukudziZvinosiririsa sei mhuri yeZimbabwe kusiiwa nemwana achine mukaka pamhuno. Apa ndinobva ndanzwisisa kuti Baba vake vaiedza kurevei uye zvinorevei muupenyu hwemunhu mumwe nemumwe wedu? Samson Mutukudzi gotweuye ari mwakomana mumwechete wa Oliva na Daisy Mutukudzi nderimwe reruva ranga richangotanga kuyevedza rabva radamburwa tinoti mweya wake ngauzorore murugare.
- Salif Keita- A Music Legend Comes to ZimbabweOne of Africa’s all time great musicians, Salif Keita, will close off the 2010 edition of the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) on a high note with a long awaited main stage performance at the six day arts extravaganza set to explode into activity in Harare at the end of April.
- Power FM Top Twenty- 20 March 2010