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Yeukai Karengezeka Arts Correspondent
Nigerian award winning playwright and screen writer Ade Solanke is conducting a script adaptation workshop with local filmmakers as part of the ongoing International Images Film Festival. The five-day workshop that is running until Friday is meant to equip filmmakers with a set of skills that will help them approach adaptation with confidence.
In an interview with the Herald Entertainment, Solanke said it was an honour to impart her knowledge to other African filmmakers.
“I am happy to be back in Zimbabwe after 24 years and it is an honour to conduct this script adaptation workshop with local filmmakers since it is an area I specialise in.
“This course covers how to select, assess and adapt novels, short stories, plays and other sources of material into feature- length screen plays.
“Some of the areas I am covering include story design, types of characters, conflicts- what characters fight for or against, role of the genre and how the films fit into the current global trends,” she said.
Solanke said she is overwhelmed by the success of her latest film that will be touring the United Kingdom next month.
“My film “Pandora Box’ will be touring 18 different cities in the United Kingdom starting next month. The award winning tragicomedy is about families, betrayal, choices and love was also nominated the Best New Play at Off West End Awards and was shortlisted 2014 Nigeria Prize for Literature.”
The workshop is being attended by local filmmakers, journalists, actors and film director Veronique Dounbe who is based in United Kingdom.
Some of the filmmakers that are participating include Abel Dzobo, Lazarus Mudzimu, Jamie McLaren, Dr Winston Mano, Tawanda Gunda and Sylvia Vassilatos.
The festival is taking place at Book Café, Alliance Francaise and Ster Kinokor Eastgate is running under the theme “Women Alive:Women of Heart”.
IIFF public relations manager Charmaine Mujeri said this year’s festival is bigger and better as compared to last year.
“This time the festival will be expanding to Kenya, Malawi and Somalia in November so that we connect with other filmmakers regionally.
“We also have a number of guests who came from China, Denmark and United Kingdom for the festival,” she said.
Some of the films to be screened that were screened yesterday include “Yeukai”, “My Lady”, “Ma One”, “Two Villages Apart ”, “Letters”, “Saved”, “Yamaha” and “Blurred”.
The festival will also be run in Bulawayo, Gwanda and Binga from November to December.
The festival has become an integral part of the local and regional film calendars.
The films portray themes that are of great relevance to Zimbabwean society as they show women’s lived realities with a closer look at the relationship between women’s practical needs and strategic needs.
Online Reporter