Local film struggles to find buyers

Ngqwele Dube, Sunday Leisure Correspondent
DESPITE being lined up for several international festivals that include the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France, local film, ‘‘Zola: The Bicycle Thief’’ is yet to get a distributor.

The movie has also been shown at the Oakland International Film Festival, San Francisco Black Film Festival and next Sunday (18 October) it is on schedule at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF).

The film, produced and directed by United States-based Zimbabwean, Sanelle Sibanda, was shot in the country and its editing was done in the US. It was premiered locally in August last year with the hope that it will be able to secure international distributors to enable the producers to make a return from the movie. Sibanda said although invitations to various renowned festivals was most welcome, the film was, however, yet to secure a distributor that they hope would be instrumental in enabling the film to make money.

“Zola has been fortunate to participate in several festivals. So many positive things have been said about the film and it seems to be touching many people’s hearts, some people are emotionally touched, they cry during the showings and others have commented that they would like to see it shown in many other places such as schools.

“However, we haven’t been able to get a buyer yet so we are still poor. We are hoping that someone at one of these festivals will take interest and acquire the movie but even if we don’t get to make money, we are so grateful that people are connecting with our film and that our names are getting recognised wherever the movie has been shown,” he said in response to questions sent to him through email.

Sibanda said being a “lone ranger” was negatively affecting his search for a buyer as he has to do a lot of things by himself. He also said his attention was now divided between securing distributors and writing a new movie titled ‘‘Zenzo’’.

“Part of the problem about finding buyers is that I am a one man show. I am doing one “hundred and twenty eleven” things all by myself. I get exhausted after preparing and attending these film festivals hence have very little energy to follow up with potential buyers who see hundreds of films at these festivals. It is also a matter of time. I have been writing another feature film ‘‘Zenzo’’ while trying to promote ‘‘Zola’’. My attention is divided but also I am a creator of stories, not a salesperson. In this case I am forced to try to be both but we will keep the hope,” he said.

SVAFF is set in Silicon Valley, California in the United States and showcases feature films, shorts and animations from “Africa’s seasoned and emerging first-voice filmmakers”. The mission of the festival is to promote an understanding and appreciation of Africa and Africans through moving images and is organised by the Community School of Music and Arts and Oriki Theatre.

The film — Zola is about a poor boy Zola who lives in a remote village in Africa whose life takes a drastic change when his father leaves to work in South Africa and his mother dies of HIV. He is forced to live with his poor uncle, a subsistence farmer, who drinks too much. Zola gets his big breakthrough when he auditions for a dance competition. It depicts how possible it is to overcome obstacles even in the direst of situations.

Despite the setbacks, Zola and his team manage to take the crown and win the ticket to represent the country in an international dance show in America. The cast also includes Ronald Sigeca, Prince Zulu, Patrick Mabhena, the late Simon Banda and Nomvelo Khoza.