Mutare film producer gets recognition

Fungayi Munyoro Entertainment Correspondent
Mutare-based film producer Ignatius ‘Igi’ Matope’s film Fatima won this year’s Hi5 Non Dialogue Short Film Competition at the 17th edition of the Zimbabwe International Film Festival held in Harare recently. For winning the award, Igi took home a prize of a digital camera from the Germany embassy and film equipment worth $500 from Media Matrix. A total of 26 film producers entered the competition. Speaking to The Weekender, Igi who is a script writer said that he was happy to win the first award as a first recognition of his work of seven years.

“I am very happy and it’s good to be recognised and awarded for something that you love doing. Winning against some big production companies when you are from a small city is quite encouraging. The ZIFF is a big platform where we get to interact and connect with international world class film markers,” he said.

The second prize went to Meston Mbewe for his film called Unfollow and he was given film equipment worth $300. Third prize went to Jonathan Samukange took the third prize for his film called Human Encounter. He received equipment worth $200.

Igi bemoans lack of support in the film industry as one of the challenges that the industry is facing. “Film industry here in Mutare is improving and coming out. We need to work as a team and that way we will go far. Mutare is small and it’s not easy to get recognised but if we get support as artistes we can do better. At the just ended ZIFF, other two ladies, Barbara Vhengedza and Miriam Tanaka also won to show that we have talent,” said the former St Dominic’s High student.

Igi started his career while he was still a student at St Dominics. He did Social Sciences at Great Zimbabwe University before becoming a full time film producer in 2009. He has worked with several film producers in the country and as an individual he has four short films.

“I have worked with so many people and this year I have produced four films. The first one is called Blurred Lines which I did in March. It was followed by Highway Cords. In August I did J Walkers then the award winning Fatima,” he said. The talented artiste said that he has already started working on his fifth project.