Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts, Entertainment Hub
Renowned film-maker Jabulani Mudzvova is on cloud nine after winning the Best Director Award at this year’s Cine Paris Film Festival.
This international festival, held in Paris, France, brings together artists, creatives and filmmakers, focusing on the discovery of new talent and innovative works.
Zimbabwe shone brightly through Mudzvova’s 24-minute short film project, “Residue,” which earned him this prestigious accolade.
Mudzvova is proud to represent Zimbabwe on such an international platform and firmly believes that local filmmakers, who have been seeking financial support, are capable of making their mark on the global stage.
In an interview with Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub, Mudzvova could not hide his excitement after this triumph.
“I’m ecstatic and genuinely honoured. It’s incredible news to receive and share. It’s nice to be acknowledged for my efforts in this art form, the art form I love, to compete and win internationally.
“Growing up as a cinephile, watching so much from the French New Wave — a huge building block of my education and ultimately an inspiration for this film — consciously and subconsciously, I feel that this means something, and I’m not just tooting my own horn.
“It’s a boost for my profile. I would like to thank my co-producers who made this film a reality: Santu Guild, Big Red Media and The Authors,” he stressed.
Mudzvova, who has gone out of his way to make an impression in film and television, firmly believes this triumph was a game-changer in his career.
“For the past three years, transitioning from ideation to having the courage to put my money where my mouth is, filmmaking is practical. You’re only a director when you can put your name at the end of the credits.
“For something that I have honed, idealised, and poured my heart into, it’s nice to receive a Best Director win. That’s a special achievement in the film community; it highlights my developing style and overall skill.
“I’ve known I could do this; I just wanted the freedom to do it! This is my first independent film.” This talented filmmaker, who firmly believes in teamwork, acknowledged that their medium is powerful in storytelling.
“Film as a medium utilises visuals and audio; it can encompass all art forms and appeal to all senses except smell. However, even that can be conveyed through the power of cinematic grammar.
“I’m not a fan of unmotivated camera movement, so I spend a lot of time planning the visual grammar and how it can complement a narrative to fully appeal to the psychology of the viewer and ultimately evoke emotion,” he stated.
Following this triumph, Mudzvova told this publication that they will not rest on their laurels.
“At the moment, we are editing another project and getting closer to filming another one that I believe will have a special impact. I’m very excited about that.
“I’ve made some interesting connections this year and am looking forward to working with more specialists in certain roles to enhance the quality of our work and actual role delegation.
“Everything I’m doing essentially contributes to the building blocks of my career and my goal of making a feature film, getting into a film lab, participating in bigger festivals, and reaching more screens. I just need to demonstrate that I have talent; I’m hungry, eager to learn, and any rejection that comes my way won’t hold me back.
“My confidence stems from my trust in the process and my instincts, not just from awards, as affirming as they can be. Outside of film, my collective, The Authors, and I are always up to something, even if it’s not film-related, dedicated to the renaissance of the Zimbabwean art space,” he shared.
According to its synopsis, “Residue” is a black-and-white, 24-minute short film that carefully sets the scene for the vague relationship between Nom (Chloe Ncube) and Ulysses (AneUnhu Gwatidzo), set against the backdrop of the bustling metropolis of Harare, featuring unique identifying factors, strong dialogue, and an exceptional performance from Charmaine Mujeri, which earned her the Best Actress Award in Brazil at the Brazil New Visions Film Festival back in June.
The film was also selected for the Stockholm City Film Festival and finished as a semi-finalist. A quintessential piece of Zimbabwean cinema, it has ultimately travelled the world of cinema.
The film’s appeal is further enhanced by the backing of The Authors Collective, a group of multidisciplinary artists dedicated to pushing the boundaries of storytelling in Zimbabwe.
According to his profile, Mudzvova is a Zimbabwean filmmaker, director, and writer whose distinct visual storytelling and deep narrative sensitivity are earning him recognition on both the local and international film scene.
With a background in law from Staffordshire University (via MBS in Greece), Jabulani brings a grounded, analytical edge to his creative practice — one that examines the Zimbabwean condition from multifaceted and emotionally resonant perspectives.
His stories, shaped by a strong command of cinematic grammar and deep cultural insight, linger long after the credits roll.
