adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
BULAWAYO filmmakers want to use Rainbow Cinemas to showcase their short films; a development that has the potential to revive Zimbabwe’s film industry. Years ago, without DVDs, computers and internet, Rainbow Cinemas ruled the roost in terms of being the place to be to watch the latest movies.
Long winding queues were the order of the day as Rainbow City 1, 2, 3 and 4 would show newly released movies and Elite 400 would be the one that held double shows of old movies.
It’s not a secret that the once vibrant Rainbow Cinemas are now a pale shadow of their past and having local movies shown might resuscitate them.
However, a glimmer of hope is right by the corner.
Two weeks ago eight short films were shown to nearly 100 people at the Rainbow Cinema City 1 at Bulawayo Centre.
Bulawayo production house rEBEL fILM pRODUCTION and Harare based Invision Studios partnered to bring Season Five of their ongoing In-Short Film project for the first time in the city.
The eight short films were directed and acted by a mixture of seasoned actors and actresses and first timers and were a breath of fresh air. The short films were between five and 10 minutes long and were shot in various locations in Bulawayo.
The eight short films were Commitment directed and written by Sindiso Mkizwana, Secret Circle directed by Nokwanda Sibanda, Sthandwa Sami directed by Xanier Dhlomo, The Calling acted by television presenter Nyasha Mtamangira, My Girlfriend’s Birthday directed by Nqozi Muvhure, Alibi directed by Percy Soko, Silence directed by Chris Ndlovu and Blurred.
The short film The Calling had no dialogue, but the actress ZBC Tv, Up close and Personal host Nyasha “Diva” Mtamangira kept the audience glued to the silver screen. The film was about her meeting with the Grim Reaper and how death was calling her. The film directed by Mhlengiwethu Nzima used camera techniques, such as close up shots to tell the story.
One of the directors of the short films, who was also in charge of casting, Gani Phiri, said they wanted to hold such shows every month so as to develop a culture of appreciating Zimbabwe films. “We want this to be something on Bulawayo’s monthly entertainment calendar so that people redevelop a culture of appreciating local films. This project will run until the end of the year and we are appealing for support from the Bulawayo Community,” he said.
Phiri who acted in two of the short films, said the Short Film project is a platform for Zimbabwean filmmakers to write, direct, shoot and showcase their films on a monthly bases. “It also aims to equip those with the desire to get into film with the requisite skills,” he said.
Phiri said after the screening of Zimbabwe’s first fantasy horror, Moonlight Cross this month, Invision Studios approached them to do short films.
“Recognising the strides rEBEL fILM pRODUCTION made in producing Moonlight Cross with limited resources, Invision Studios gave an idea to try short film for Bulawayo fans. We then started shooting between May 11 and 17,” he said.
Moonlight Cross was premiered at the Zimbabwe Academy of Music on May 10.
The movie is about a boy who is raised from the dead as a slave to a powerful family of witches. His quest to free his soul from bondage is wrought with horror, thrills, love, loss and sacrifice as he desperately tries to reconnect with his past.
The movie will hit the silver screen soon followed by the DVD.
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo