‘Over to you ladies’

Women Affairs , Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa (right), Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhao Ding (centre) and Professional Women, Women Executives and Business Women’s Forum (PROWEB) president, Tendayi Hlupo-Mamvura toast to PROWEB’s 20th anniversary in Harare on Friday.

Tawanda Marwizi Arts Correspondent—-
Deputy Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said women should not hesitate to take leading roles in film-making. Deputy Minister Mutsvangwa said this while officially opening the 14th edition of the International Images Film Festival for Women in Harare last Friday.

“Women should freely tell their own countless real life stories through film, thereby directly contribute to the growth of their family welfare and national development,” she said.

Such festivals like the IIFF, she said, present an opportunity for the world to see film products produced by ordinary people outside elitist film companies.

She urged women filmmakers to be original.

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“Allow me therefore to say to our women filmmakers, while you should learn the different styles and techniques from other film making traditions at various platforms, including festivals like this one, it is important to remain original by telling your stories from your own perspective.”

Minister Mutsvangwa hailed the organisers of the event for their efforts to keep the festival going.

“This is an auspicious home grown annual event that was initiated and is run by women themselves. From the onset, may I therefore commend the women who have continually made IIFF the great success that it has been since its inception 14 years ago. Your passion and efforts for the development of women through film are greatly appreciated.”

Minister Mutsvangwa was accompanied by her husband Honourable Christopher Mutsvangwa who is the Minister of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees

IIFF has become an important event on the calendar of women filmmakers in Zimbabwe and has drawn the interest of different filmmakers across the globe.

At this year’s event, workshops and training of filmmakers will be conducted by our local filmmakers in conjunction with guests from Germany, China, UK, Burkina Faso, Poland, Sweden, South Africa and Tanzania.