adminArts Correspondent
The annual International Images Film Festival for Women roars into life tomorrow in Harare. The festival, which is running under the theme “Women Alive — Women of Peace”, will see several films being premièred during the next nine days at different venues dotted across the capital.
According to organisers, some of the major highlights of the festival include a short film called “100 Bucks” produced by Mutaleni Nadimi, “Art of this Place: Women Artists in Cameroon”, produced by Florence Ayisi and “House of Shadows” directed by Yolanda Zenasi.
IIFF director Yvonne Jila said this year’s festival would be bigger and better than previous editions.
“We have been preparing for this festival through film screenings in schools, colleges and universities in addition to monthly screenings at the Book Cafe. We have already been to Harare Polytechnic,” she said.
Jila said this year’s festival promises viewers inspirational stories about women who have overcome their odds.
“We are already finalising the programmes with films that look at stories of women from different parts of the world who have committed their lives to fight for a violence-free society, a society where women can realise their full potential both in the private and public sphere,” she said.
“Even more importantly, IIFF provides a space where women can come together to network, bond and build their dreams in a relaxed, safe environment. Women rarely have this opportunity outside the festival week,” she added.
In addition to the festival, an awards ceremony will be held to honour outstanding films.
The New Man category introduced last year in honour of the late Walter Mparutsa will again recognise films that showcase positive male role models.
Locally produced documentaries that go beyond the headlines in telling real-life stories that surprise, entertain and challenge audiences emotionally will compete for the best local documentary.
“The best local categories have been introduced to encourage local filmmakers to tell the Zimbabwean story to other Zimbabweans, tell stories that will inform, inspire, educate locals and positively impact on their communities.
The festival has become an integral part of the local and regional film calendars and is a focal point for WFOZ’s activities. IIFF has also created spaces and stimuli for societal engagement with critical issues ordinarily not engaged with adequately in the mainstream.
Last year a total of 87 films ranging from features to documentaries were screened in Harare.
The films portrayed themes that are of great relevance to Zimbabwean society as they showed women’s lived realities with a closer lens at the relationship between women’s practical needs and strategic needs.
The stories touched on universal issues such as women’s economic empowerment, access to education, environmental awareness and gender-based violence, among others.
Online Reporter