Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWEAN filmmakers have received a major boost from an intensive workshop focusing on the business side of filmmaking, led by Oscar-nominated Hollywood producer, Ms Alix Madigan.
The workshop, facilitated by the United States Embassy in Harare and hosted by the Zimbabwe Visual and Theatre Education and Support Association (ZVTESA), was part of the embassy’s continued commitment to empowering Zimbabwe’s creative sector with practical tools to make art profitable and sustainable.
The embassy’s public diplomacy officer, Mrs Becca Archer-Knepper, said the workshop was part of a nod to Zimbabwe’s year of film.
“We have been planning this for nearly a year, and we are thrilled to bring in someone as experienced as Alix Madigan,” she said.
“The goal is to shift focus to the business of film because that is how people make money and build industries.”
Ms Madigan, a seasoned producer of both Hollywood blockbusters and independent films, spent five days engaging directors, writers, producers and actors, from seasoned professionals to budding students in mastering the commercial side of cinema.
“There is a tremendous wealth of talent, ingenuity and passion for filmmaking in Zimbabwe,” she said.
“I believe the future of filmmaking here is very bright. What is needed now are formal structures like a national film commission and tax incentives to support this remarkable community.”
Participants described the workshop as eye-opening and transformational. Local writer and filmmaker Mr Kudakwashe Rice praised the focus on professionalising the industry.
“Alex taught us the business aspect of filmmaking — funding, distribution, getting returns. We also discussed the need for policies to support creatives so that they can work at a professional level and benefit from tax incentives,” he said.
Veteran filmmaker Yeukai Ndarimani, known for her work on Studio 263, said the workshop was a timely intervention for an industry still struggling to establish financial viability.
“People say we do not have a film industry, but we do have a community. This workshop gave us global insight, showing us platforms for funding, distribution, and collaboration — especially with co-productions across Africa,” she said.
The US Embassy has been actively supporting Zimbabwe’s creative sector over the past several years, running similar initiatives to help artists turn their talent into sustainable livelihoods.
