Film industry consultative indaba opens

Zimbabwe Film and Television School of Southern Africa in Harare, by the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity Cde Webster Shamu.
The indaba, hosted by the Zimbabwe Film and Television School of Southern Africa, is organised by the Film Makers Guild of Zimbabwe in co-operation with the Zimbabwe Film Development Committee, the

Zimbabwe International Film Festival and International Video Fair.
The first day of the indaba was devoted to the feedback by the Zimbabwe Film Industry Development Committee which was presented by Dr Rino Zhuwarara, who chaired the committee that was set up at last year’s indaba to research, consult and recommend a draft national film policy.

After discussing responses of the stakeholders to the draft film policy, the indaba receive responses of the permanent secretaries of the two critical ministries – the Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity and the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture.
The indaba engages international film experts, the corporate sector and Government ministries in articulating and considering the realities of African film-making; film funding and the role of governments in promoting the development of a viable film sector.
The perspective on film-making in Africa will be presented by Ramadan Suluman from South Africa and Dr Mutheu Maitha-Bomba from Kenya,

Vickson Hangula from Namibia will give another perspective using his experience as a member of the Namibia Film Commission to talk about how national film commissions work.
The session which will be on film funding will be handled by chief executive officer of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Happison Muchechetere; the Director of Culture Fund of Zimbabwe, Mr Farai Mufunya; the director of the National Arts Council, Mr Elvas Mari; and a senior official from the Ministry of Finance.

The day will conclude with presentations from representatives from different ministries.
These will include that of Economic and Investment Planning; Youth, Empowerment and Indigenisation; Tourism and Hospitality; Local Government and Industry and Commerce.

They are expected to indicate what they are doing or could do to contribute to grown of a viable film industry in Zimbabwe. Film-makers will be expected to use this rare opportunity of dialoguing with the Government to indicate what the sector expects from these ministries.
The indaba will also feature presentations on what constitute a Zimbabwean film; the training of film-makers in Zimbabwe and the role of festivals, guilds and associations the development and promotion of a viable film sector.

The indaba will conclude with an open forum in order to receive recommenda- tions on how best to develop the film sector.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Cde Lazarus Dokora, will close the three-day indaba.
The Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) kicked off last Friday with an exciting musical show and the screening at the main stage of the Harare Gardens of “An African Election” a very appropriate and excellent documentary on the 2008 general elections in Ghana.

As observed by Nigel Munyati – a founder and trustee of ZIFF – in his opening remarks, strategic partnership with the International Video Trust has revatilised ZIFF.
Charity Maruta, the executive director of the festival, and “her team have injected a dynamic energy force that is already achieving wonderful results, as evidenced in the new format of the festival”.

Other workshops that took place from Monday and were held at The Mannenberg included writing an episodic television series on social justice issues facilitated by Elton Mjanana and Mandisi Gobodi; “acting on in an episodic television series on social justice issues” facilitated by Elijah Madzikatire, Stewart Sakarombe and Gladys Tsikwa; “production management of an episodic television series” facilitated by Shuvai Chikombah Zodetsa.

Blessing Hungwe and Allan Muwani; did “editing and sound engineering of an episodic television series” facilitated by Brighton Tazarurwa and Gilbert Mucheche and a master class on film directing conducted by Rumbi Katedza. The success of these Zimbabwean filmmakers complementing their different skills and working as the Team Zimbabwe, was an eloquent expression of the film-making capacity in Zimbabwe which requires resourcing towards creating a vibrant film industry.

This potential and technical capacity was recognised by Nigel Munyati in his festival opening address on Friday when he said: “We need to find a model that works for Zimbabwe. ‘Bollywood’ has done it for India; ‘Nolliwood’ for Nigeria and ‘Mzanziwood’ is doing for South Africa.

“By introducing the ‘Finding Common Ground’ we are hoping that we can plant the seeds of conciliation in the minds and hearts of all Zimbabweans. Our Zimbabwe is strong and resilient of which we – the citizens – is its greatest asset. So with the nation’s mind and heart in the right place, it is my belief that nothing is impossible, and everything is possible.”