Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE National Film Strategy will be under the spotlight when filmmakers across the country meet at the Bokola Film Festival that will be held on August 23 at Studio Moto in Harare.
The event will be held under the theme “Dream. Now!”
This year’s edition is more than a celebration of cinema, it’s a rallying cry.
In a world reeling from inequality, climate challenges and war, Bokola 2025 has called on filmmakers, artists and activists to respond with urgency, clarity and radical imagination.
The event will run from midday till 10pm.
Festival co-director Sikhanyisiwe Sebata said this year’s Bokola Film Festival will invite audiences to a dynamic celebration of storytelling, resistance and imagination.
“The festival will showcase powerful documentary screenings across three curated strand— stories From The Emergency, featuring urgent narratives confronting climate collapse, authoritarianism, and surveillance.
“Dreamers, a spotlight on unapologetic young African storytellers whose work is bold, rooted and audacious.
“Frontlines of Change, highlighting the visual work of activists, indigenous filmmakers, and global movements pushing for justice, land rights, gender equity, and liberation through poetic, hybrid, and genre-defying forms.
“Festival goers can also explore Radical Futures, an immersive space of virtual reality, augmented reality and interactive installations.
“Beyond the screen, Bokola will offer behind-the-scenes access to acclaimed digital productions like The Week, a fun kids’ zone, a vibrant food and drinks space, chill spots and surprise musical appearances – creating a rich, multi-sensory experience for all ages,” said Sebata.
Festival co-director Dexter Fundire said Bokola 2025 will reaffirm its place as a platform for fearless storytelling.
“This year Bokola has been rebranded. We’re focusing on you—the people. Your films, your dreams, your experiences.
“The festival showcases documentaries, experimental visuals and immersive media from the frontlines of change — especially work by young, African, and marginalised creators forging new paths through crisis and creativity.”
Since 2020, Bokola has incubated 45 emerging filmmakers through its flagship initiative, the Film Fellowship ZW — a partnership between Accountability Lab Zimbabwe and Magamba Network.
This collaboration resulted in the production of an impressive 43 original films.
The impact of this support is evident in the growing international recognition of our Bokola alumni.
Notable examples include Jabulani Muzvova, whose film ‘A Few Dollars More’ has been screened at prestigious festivals such as the UMP Festival in Malawi and the African Indigenous Language Film Festival in Nigeria.
Sikhanyiswe Sebata has made her mark globally, with her work featured in over eight international festivals.
These include the Africa International Human Rights Film Festival, Sotambe International Film Festival, International Images Film Festival, Zimbabwe International Film Festival, Athens Digital Arts Festival, and the African Film Festival in New Zealand.
