Katedza’s Playing Warriors gets international recognition

The film festival opened last Friday in Los Angeles in the United States.
In an interview Katedza said: “I am excited just to be nominated in this category with such prestigious African and African-American filmmakers.
“It is an honour to be recognised for your work, and it is wonderful that a Zimbabwean story is resonating with international audiences.”
Katedza did not only direct but also wrote the feature film, which is her first feature film and is a sexy comedy with a social conscience.
The film focuses on the lives of four friends – modern young women in the city and their struggle to find a balance between traditional expectations of their parents and society and their own dreams.
A romantic comedy with a difference – the film is set against the backdrop of professional career woman Nyarai (Kudzai Sevenzo) and her championship basketball playing sister Mati (Nothando Nobengula). Nyarai is walking a romantic tightrope – balancing wannabe supermodel, toyboy Che, with sleek man-about-town, older boyfriend Leslie.
The audience which will visit Rainbow Cinemas at Bulawayo Centre will join Nyarai and her friends on a journey of discovery of what it means to be a modern woman as they figure in which direction to take their lives, without simultaneously upsetting too many people.
The film was shot on location in and around Harare.
Playing Warriors stars Kudzai Sevenzo, Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana, Tendai Musoni and Nothando Nobengula. The love interests are played by John Pfumojena as fun-loving Che and Edmore Sandifolo as Leslie, the more mature and successful love interest.
Local favourites Walter Muparutsa and Elizabeth Nyanguridza feature as Nyarai’s parents and there are humorous cameo roles from Gavin Peters, Edgar Langeveldt, Michael Kudakwashe and Ben Mahaka.
The feature film is a co-production between Mai Jai Films and Pangolin Films and was produced by Katedza and her long time colleague and friend Jackie Cahi.
Katedza said Playing Warriors was produced with financial support from the Goteborg Film Festival Fund and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fonds Images Afrique as well as with local support from the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust and the Zimbabwe International Film Festival Trust.
‘The production is pleased to be showcasing a wealth of local talent in cast, crew and soundtrack. O’Brien Mudyiwenyama and Farai Chimombe were in charge of cinematography,” she said.
Katedza said Allan Muwani leads the art department where he took care of the “look” of the film, sourcing and decorating the right locations to set the scene.
“First assistant director Leonard Matsa looked after the set and hectic schedule and Shuvai Chikombah-Zodetsa pulled everything together as production manager. The soundtrack features music from local artistes Tags, Prayersoul, Junior Banton, Enqore, Roki, Mannex, Mr Hingis and others,” she said.
There is also a remix Ndofandichibaiwa made especially for the film by Chiwoniso featuring girl rapper Blackbird.