Embarking on a cinematic journey, Rutendo’s triumphs, collaborations

IN the realm of Zimbabwean cinema, one name stands out as a beacon of innovation and creativity — Rutendo Mahofa, a digital audiovisual strategist and documentary impact producer. Her journey to success took an extraordinary turn after graduating from the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) in 2019. A trip sponsored by MultiChoice itself to Kigali, Rwanda, opened doors to an exciting collaboration and the birth of an exceptional film.

“My recent project was working as first assistant director for a full length feature film, ‘Kigali 21’, a romantic drama on a young Belgian grieving his grandfather, who falls in love with a mysterious Rwandan woman which propels him on a journey of self-discovery.

Rutendo Mahofa behind the scenes in Rwanda for “Kigali 21”

This project was a perfect blend of cultural integration and new relationship forging with a Rwandan crew and cast as well as our Belgian lead! Working with such a pool of dynamic talented crew and cast made the production period collaborative and efficient. It was a really an enriching experience as we got to simulate with a new culture where we learnt new languages on set in a 15-day period of shooting last month,” she said.

“Kigali 21” introduced Rutendo to the brilliant Rwandan director Kagabo Nkubiri and the talented actor Lynca Ruta, as well as the Belgian actor Karel Konings. This project, made possible by MultiChoice’s support, has proven to be a milestone in her career, catapulting her to greatness.

“Being a part of the MultiChoice family has greatly enhanced my reach as a film maker. For instance, MultiChoice Zimbabwe was a key partner in ‘Kigali 21’ and sponsored our ticket travel to and from Kigali and will aid in our distribution phase once the film is released for public consumption. More so, MTF is how I met Nobert Mapfoche, a fellow MTF alumnus who is like my twin when it comes to film projects. On ‘Kigali 21’, he was the director of photography.

This will mark the fifth year working together and he introduced me to Kagabo while we were in Lusaka, Zambia. So, MultiChoice has helped me forge real connections within the film industry that have propelled my journey as an alumnus,” she said.

Kigali 21 is poised to grace the cinemas before the year comes to a close, promising an unforgettable cinematic experience crafted by an exceptional team. Rutendo, the founder of Roar Media, firmly believes that a great film owes its success to a diverse and collaborative team.

“A great film begins with an exceptional story and more importantly a diverse and collaborative team! Without a collaborative team where there is mutual respect and readiness to put in the necessary work, which is almost like resilience then everything that can hinder you will hinder you. Filming ‘Kigali 21’ came with its challenges on many levels from government delays, suppliers’ rigid requirements and working with set deadlines, but because we had a diverse and resilient team, we managed to film and finish with minimal resources which we all think was a true miracle.

“For Zimbabwe, we definitely lack structural systems and support within the sector to sustain viable projects within our country. Most of the challenges filmmakers face emanate from lack of structural infrastructure to say the least,” she said.
Mahofa has also been a vital cog in the production of a reality series, “Yes, I have HIV” something she cherishes.

“My involvement with the project as both a co-director and production manager was an interesting experience as it was intriguing to see a lot of people being able to tell their stories of living with HIV where they would open up to their loved ones risking rejection but also benefiting acceptance. It was lovely working with a collaborative and young crew on set with fresh ideas,” she said.

This is just a drop in the bucket for Mahofa who has many film productions under her belt. In an ever-changing creative world, Mahofa doubles it up in the consultancy world.

“Besides my works as a film director, I consult through Roar Media as a Digital Communications Consultant and help brands tell their story to their target market. I work with Classique27, The Mustard Seed, Wynter Immigration Law to mention a few and help with their brand storytelling to their target market. I am looking into developing a local reality show which I think the Zimbabwean and diaspora market will appreciate and some children’s content between now and 2024,” said Mahofa. — @Mbulelo