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Bruce Ndlovu
The Tongayi Chirisa movie, The Zim, recently came tops in the LA Shorts International Film Festival, sweeping aside almost 300 other competitors who were also battling it out for the top prize in the prestigious big screen extravaganza.
The LA Shorts fest was founded by Robert Arentz in 1997 and has grown to become one of the most prestigious and largest international short film festivals in the world with more 280 films screening annually.
Exhibition at the festival gives participants a stronger chance when American award season comes calling at the beginning of the next year.
In order to qualify for a short film award at the annual Academy Awards (the Oscars) you must meet the Rules and Eligibility criteria, which includes qualification through awards at qualifying festivals. LA Shorts is the only film festival with seven award categories recognised by the Academy Awards.
a�?I was inspired by the men and women who endured extraordinary hardship, yet never lost their humanity. I hope the film honours them,a�? said writer and director Alexander Bedria who spent nearly five years researching, developing and crowdfunding the film.
Although Chirisa is the star of the movie, Bedria is a star in his own right, having guest starred on the Showtime series Ray Donovan and HBOa��s The Newsroom. His acting credits also include: Scandal, Criminal Minds, 90210, CSI: Miami and The Amazing Spiderman. . .
Online Reporter