All set for film festival

Sophia Chese Arts Correspondent
All is set for International Images Film Festival which will be running from August 15 to 23 with guests from as far as China, UK, and Denmark confirming their presence.
The festival will open with “Half of a yellow sun” film which was adapted by Biyi Bandele from the novel of the same title by acclaimed Nigerian writer Adichie Chimamanda.

The film also stars Zimbabwean-born Thandie Newton.

In an interview with The Herald Entertainment, IIFF public relations officer Charmaine Mujeri said the festival in partnership with the Institute of Creative Arts for Progress in Africa will this year present the script adaption workshop by Nigerian award-winning playwright and screenwriter Ade Solanke, which is meant to educate script writers on how to write good scripts.

“The five day workshop is aimed at equipping filmmakers with a set of skills that will allow them to approach adaptation with confidence and expertise as they move forward in their careers hence the need to have a script adaptation workshop,” she said.

The festival’s restructured programme will also see the inclusion of the late Walter Muparutsa Award in the New Man category.

It will have Book Café, Alliance Francaise and Ster Kinokor Eastgate as venues and will see strong local filmmakers like Abel Dzobo, Lazarus Mudzimu, Jamie McLaren, Dr Winston Mano, Tawanda Gunda and Sylvia Vassilatos taking part.

The opening ceremony will have performances by Selmor Mutukudzi and husband Tendai Manatsa and a poetry performance by the leading ladies of spoken word Moreblessing Size and Batsirai Chigama.

Mujeri also said this year’s festival will be expanding to Kenya, Malawi and Somalia.

“We have realised the need to share with other countries so we will be expanding the festival to other three African countries Malawi, Somalia and Kenya in November,” she said.

The festival will run under the theme “Women Alive: Women of Heart” which according to IIFF director Yvonne Jila will be portraying women as tough beings yet possessing a rare gift of loving unconditionally and being emotionally strong and also brave.

Jila said the films to be seen during this year’s festival will also celebrate daring women who, despite daily challenges, always emerge stronger than before. She promised plenty of entertainment as we.