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Jonathan Mbiriyamveka Entertainment Reporter
“Isidingo” and former “Generations” star Vusi Kunene is expected to grace this year’s edition of the Zimbabwe International Film Festival which makes a welcome return starting from December 10 to 14 under the theme: “Retrospective – Looking Back With Independent Eyes”.
Viewers of the South African soaps will be more than pleased to rub shoulders with Kunene as well as festival film ambassadors Munya Chidzonga, Comfort Mbofana and Demetria Hamandishe both from Zimbabwe’s leading commercial radio station Star FM.
“Vusi Kunene, who is a protagonist in one of the festival films ‘Kini & Adams’, will be in Zimbabwe between December 10 and 15. ZIFF is excited about appointing film ambassadors, namely Comfort Mbofana, Munya Chidzonga and Demetria Hamandishe,” Fungai “Kush” Zvirawa of Khaya Defero and in charge of the festival public relations said.
Zimbabwean actors and actresses are sure to learn a thing or two from Kunene, popularly known as Jack Mabaso in “Generations” Season 1 to SABC1 viewing audiences and as Paul in “Jacob’s Cross” Season 3, Vuyani in “Yizo Yizo” Season 2 and Jefferson Sibeko in “Isidingo”.
According to TVSA, Kunene was born in Meadowlands, north of Soweto in Johannesburg, on April 12 1966.
“He was born on Friday the 13th, but one of the nurses thought this was bad luck and changed it to the 12th. Vusi discovered his acting abilities at the Shell Road to Fame School of the Arts, which was set up to assist contestants in preparation for the auditions.
“In 1991 Vusi decided to pursue acting as a career and registered at the Wits School of Drama, for a Degree in Dramatic Art. There he got the opportunity to perform in numerous student stage dramas, including ‘The Hill’, where he was spotted by his future agent Moonyeenn Lee.
“As a student at Wits School of Drama he was cast in three television films, ‘Drumbeats’, directed by Jurgen Shaderburg; ‘The Line’, directed by Brian Tilley for Channel Four; and the mini-series ‘Rhodes’, directed by David Drury for the BBC.
“He was also cast in three feature films including the role of Reverend Msimango in ‘Cry the Beloved Country’, directed by Darryl Roodt. He was awarded an M-Net All Africa Film Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Zimbabwe-Southern African Film Festival award for Best Performance for his role as Reverend Msimango.
“After graduating he landed a role in ‘The Coloured Museum’ directed by Itumeleng Motsikoe for the Market Theatre.
“His television career also developed. In 1996 he was cast in ‘Homelands’ directed by Neal Sundstrom and in 1997 he appeared in
‘Deafening Silence’ directed by Ettienne de Villiers, both for SABC Television.
“In 1998 he was cast in the drama series ‘Justice for All’ directed by Peter Goldsmid, for which he won an Avanti award for
Best Actor. He was nominated for an NTVA award for Best Actor for his role of Daniel Mofokeng in ‘Homelands’, and was nominated for the same award three years in a row (2002-2004) for his role as Jack Mabaso in ‘Generations’.
“In 1996 he was cast in two feature films: ‘Fools’ directed by Ramadan Suleman, and ‘Kini and Adams’ (in which he played the lead role of Kini), directed by Idrissa Ouedraogo for Framework, Zimbabwe”.
The presence of Kunene brings back to life the festival which failed to take place last year due to logistical and financial constraints faced by the trust.
A new Board of Trustees was appointed in February this year with a dynamic team that set out to revive the Trust and its programmes, starting with ZIFF.
According to Zvirawa the theme for the festival allows people to look into the growth and journey that Zimbabwe has taken since independence to today through the eye of film.
“It is a beautiful theme that allows us to follow the script that the country has written for itself to date. This theme easily allows us to select the best from an unlimited number of films that were produced in Zimbabwe either as wholly Zimbabwean productions or as co-productions with other countries.
“This theme also fits well with workshops, discussions and symposiums that we have lined up. These will focus on, among other issues, ‘why Zimbabwe’s film industry remains a commercial failure’ or ‘the impact of deterioration in filmmaking standards in Zimbabwe?,” she said.
The festival will also look back at dedicated filmmakers that have illuminated the film scene, whether deceased or living.
“Names that easily come into mind are the likes of Godwin Mawuru, David Gwaza, Rumbi Katedza, Ben Zulu, Simon Shumba, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nakai Matema, etc.
“We Zimbabweans have a knack of not recognising achievements by our own people, and ZIFFT has decided to take a lead in changing this in the film sector.
“The Safirio Madzikatire Award for distinguished contribution to film will give the industry the opportunity to reflect on the good work being done in film, despite the challenging economic environment,” Zvirawa said.
Online Reporter