Online Reporter
James Nyandowe
A GROUNDBREAKING documentary, “The Rift”, is set to make its world premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) from tomorrow, Matamba Film Labs for Women has revealed.
The festival ends on November 25.The film is a result of a collaboration between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom and the project was spearheaded by Matamba Film Labs which is dedicated to empowering women in film. In a statement, Matamba Film Labs said: “The Rift” is a pulsating combination of powerful contemporary dance and exhilarating music, with water as the unifying element.
“Mary Anibal’s Mvura song, remixed by NO SHAPE, takes centre stage,” read the statement.
The film is the result of XR Labs, a collaboration between immersive arts studio 4Pi Productions (Wales), media organisation Matamba Film Labs, and dance hub AfriKera Arts Trust of Harare.
“4Pi Productions created this new immersive film in collaboration with AfriKera Arts Trust whilst providing training opportunities for a cohort of female creatives the ‘Future Femmes’ coordinated by Matamba Film Labs.
This collaboration facilitated essential skill transfer, empowering the Future Femmes with knowledge and experience in this emerging medium,” said Matamba Film Labs.
The documentary showcases four dancers performing a shared choreography across various locations in Zimbabwe, blurring boundaries between built environments and natural structures. Speaking on the collaboration, Matamba Film Labs said,
“Working with 4Pi Productions provided invaluable insights that are now informing Zimbabwe’s Film Strategy, particularly around international partnerships and production protocols.”
The XR Labs project aims to empower female creatives through cutting-edge XR storytelling.
“This project represents a holistic approach to international creative partnership,” said 4Pi Productions.
“The training we provided to the Future Femmes cohort in XR technologies, 360° filming, and immersive storytelling has equipped them with specialised knowledge in one of the most exciting frontiers of contemporary media.”
The film will be featured in the DocLab Exhibition at IDFA 2025.
