Online Reporter
Gift Moyo, [email protected]
Reigning Miss Cosmo Zimbabwe 2026, Malaika Mushandu, a filmmaker, has joined forces with some of the country’s leading film professionals to launch the Final Cut Pictures Film Lab, a mentorship programme aimed at equipping emerging filmmakers with the skills needed to compete on the global stage.
Drawing from her experience as a director of several music videos and films, Mushandu has partnered with acclaimed industry practitioners to establish a training platform focused on developing Zimbabwe’s next generation of storytellers and film professionals.
Final Cut Pictures production manager Phillip Marumha said the initiative was born out of a desire to strengthen the local film industry by investing in talent development.
“Our mandate as an academy is simple: to tell authentic African stories and own our narratives. We believe that the future of African cinema depends not only on producing great films, but rather on developing the storytellers who create them.
“That is why Final Cut Pictures has decided to start dedicating a portion of the revenue made from its productions to fund training for emerging filmmakers through the Film Lab,” Marumha said.
“Rather than waiting for someone else to strengthen the industry, we have chosen to become part of the solution ourselves. Ultimately, the Film Lab was designed to prepare participants with practical skills, confidence and professionalism to tell authentic African stories.”
The inaugural workshop was held in Harare on July 5 and attracted overwhelming interest from aspiring filmmakers across the country.
According to Marumha, the organisers received hundreds of applications before selecting 54 participants, with 50 eventually attending the programme.
“The response exceeded our expectations, with hundreds of applications received from aspiring filmmakers across Zimbabwe. Following a rigorous selection process, we invited 54 participants, of whom 50 attended the inaugural Final Cut Film Lab.
“Our selection focused on individuals who demonstrated genuine passion, commitment and a clear desire to build a lasting career in film. The remarkable turnout and enthusiasm reaffirmed that there is an abundance of talented storytellers eager to learn, grow and contribute to the future of Zimbabwean and African cinema,” he said.
Participants came from diverse backgrounds, ranging from recent graduates to self-taught creatives, and received training in various disciplines including directing, producing, cinematography, production design, editing, scriptwriting, acting, styling and costume design, as well as makeup and special effects.
Marumha said the programme combined theory with practical application.
“The Film Lab brought together recent graduates, self-taught creatives and aspiring filmmakers from diverse backgrounds. Participants chose their preferred discipline and trained in areas such as directing, producing, cinematography, production design, editing, scriptwriting, acting, styling and costume, or makeup and special effects.”
The workshops were facilitated by some of Zimbabwe’s most respected film practitioners, including Luscah Muchenje, Marvin Mabhikwa, Admire Kanhenga, Sebastien Lallemand, Gideon Wabvuta, Annie Paradza, Eddie Sandifolo, Malaika Mushandu and Joe Njagu.
Buoyed by the success of the inaugural edition, organisers are already planning future editions of the Film Lab.
“The inaugural Film Lab is only the beginning. Our vision is to make the Film Lab a recurring initiative that discovers, trains and develops the next generation of filmmakers.
“Four outstanding participants from this year’s programme will also join Final Cut Pictures to gain experience on professional productions,” said Marumha.
The initiative comes at a time when Zimbabwe’s film industry is experiencing renewed momentum, with growing calls for structured training platforms capable of nurturing local talent and strengthening African storytelling on the international stage.
