Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
IN a world where technology is advancing daily, Prince Ngwenya, a final-year BA Honours student from Lupane State University (LSU) stole the limelight at the AV Expo 2025 with his ground-breaking 3D animated short film, Luveve’s Shadow.
The experimental film, part of Ngwenya’s creative dissertation project, was a major crowd-puller at the event, which ran from July 8 to 10 at the Harare Showgrounds.
The AV Expo 2025 — Media, Broadcasting and Technology, hosted by the Audio Academy, serves as a vital national platform for academic institutions, media professionals, broadcasters and technology innovators to showcase their latest work and engage with future-facing ideas.
Ngwenya’s Luveve’s Shadow had significant attention for its innovative use of 3D software within the local context, with people praising it’s compelling storyline and bold artistic statements in the Zimbabwean film landscape.
Ngwenya said it is high time that the film sector taps more into technology advancements.
“I hope this animation will be a starting point in the Zimbabwean film sector where we strive to tell our own stories that resonate with us on our local televisions.
“Animation is still very unknown in Zimbabwe, but there’s no harm in trying new things.
“That LSU is giving us young filmmakers a platform to experiment, is commendable for this sector. I hope that the short film will spark a lot more such projects in the future,” he said.
LSU was a prominent exhibitor at the expo, proudly showcasing its LSU Campus Radio (broadcasting at 98.7FM) alongside a diverse range of other film productions by students from the Department of Languages, Media and Communication Studies.
Innocent Mwapangira, who supervised Ngwenya’s animated project and also exhibiting at the AV Expo, emphasised LSU’s dedication to fostering practical skills and knowledge.
“LSU is deeply committed to being a forerunner in generating knowledge and skills that can be industrialised for the economic development of the country.
“This commitment is clearly demonstrated by the success of projects like Luveve’s Shadow, which exemplify the university’s focus on empowering students and the wider community. The overwhelming positive reception of Luveve’s Shadow underscores the growing potential of 3D animation in Zimbabwe and highlights LSU’s role in nurturing the next generation of creative talent in the media and technology sectors,” said Mwapangira. — @mthabisi_mthire
