Filmmakers to hold consultative meeting

7th October.
The indaba which is joint sponsored by the Zimbabwe Film and Television School of Southern Africa (ZIFTESSA) and the Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF), would be held under the theme “A Step towards films for Zimbabwe by Zimbabweans”.

The three-day consultative meeting will be held at the Zimbabwe Film and Television School of Southern Africa in Harare during the Zimbabwe International Film Festival that will be held in the Harare Gardens.
Last year the Zimbabwe Filmmakers Guild brought together 150 filmmakers to the first indaba which was supported by the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity.

This year the Guild expects 200 filmmakers to attend the indaba.
The 2010 indaba was dominated by an overview of some of the challenges faced by filmmakers in Zimbabwe since 1980 and the different efforts undertaken to develop a coherent national film policy.
Factors that promoted the establishment of national film organisations and donor supported projects that made Zimbabwe become the southern hub of the African film industry were also highlighted in papers presented at the indaba.

The plight of many filmmakers who pioneered the production of feature films in the eighties were noted while the demise of the Unesco film project, the Central Film Laboratory and the Production Services were highlighted as the most critical setbacks in the development of the Zimbabwean film industry.
The same indaba recognised the heroic efforts of those who have soldiered on in the production of television programmes, which have become the backbone of Zimbabwe’s film industry.

Also recognised were individuals, associations, film houses and trusts that have ensured that film festivals continue to be viable platforms for the acquisition of film productions skills; the promotion of vital and diverse knowledge about current development s in film production technology and filmmaking; the facilitation of short film productions and the exhibition of exemplary film products from Africa

and other parts of the world.
In its evaluation of the 2010 Indaba, the Zimbabwe Filmmakers Guild said the first Indaba had “opened the door and vital communication lines in the interest of developing the Zimbabwe film sector”.
One of the major achievements of the 2010 Film Indaba was the appointment of filmmakers into the Zimbabwe Film Industry Development Committee that was mandated to “carry out research and consultations in order to come up with a national film policy proposal to be presented to Government”.

The film policy was expected to encourage the growth and development of a thriving film industry in Zimbabwe.
One of the major highlights of the 2011 Film Indaba would be the presentation by the Zimbabwe Film Industry Development Committee of a draft proposal for a national film policy.
This year’s indaba is expected to create dialogue among filmmakers in Zimbabwe in their efforts towards identifying opportunities in the film sector; coming up with film sector vision and values; considering co-production opportunities and partnerships offered in the agreements of joint commissions between Zimbabwe and such countries as China, Cuba, Iran and South Africa.

It will also provide a vibrant forum for identifying critical players in the film sector and enabling them to harmonise their positions on what needs to be done to grow a viable film industry in Zimbabwe.
The consultation is also expected to identify and recommend the research that should be undertaken as well as defining the required and essential “relationship between the film sector and government institutions”.

Speakers and discussants articulate “innovative and strategic film business models that should be adopted” as well as recommendations for the film sector development and sustainable growth. The indaba will endeavour to identify prospective investors with interest in the film business.
The indaba which will be officially opened by the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, Honourable Webster Shamu will be closed by the Deputy Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Dr Lazarus Dokora.

Filmmakers interested in participating in the India are encouraged to register for the event.
They should get a copy of the Report 2010 Film Industry Consultative Indaba, the programme of the consultative meeting itself as well as information about the Zimbabwe Filmmakers Guild from [email protected] .

They can also visit the office of the Film Makers Guild of Zimbabwe Trust at the Zimbabwe Film and Television School of Southern Africa.