Online Reporter
Tafadzwa Zimoyo
Zimpapers Entertainment Editor
SOMETHING is definitely brewing in Zimbabwe’s film industry.
It’s no longer the quiet, underfunded corner of African arts.
From Mai TT’s glitzy Nigerian collab ‘Lost in Ashes’ that set tongues wagging in Harare, to the latest triumph in Beverly Hills, Zimbabwean cinema is strutting confidently onto the global stage.
The latest headline-grabber?
‘Rise’ is a homegrown short film that shocked Hollywood insiders by scooping not one, not two, but three glittering awards at the Lady Filmmakers Festival in Los Angeles.
And make no mistake, this wasn’t a token pat on the back.
It was Zimbabwean talent going toe-to-toe with the best in the world, and winning.
Written and directed by Jessica Rowlands, produced by industry stalwart Joe Njagu, and fronted by international star Tongayi Chirisa, Rise walked away with Best Short Film, Best Actor for Chirisa, and Best Up-and-Coming Young Actor for little-known but now unforgettable Sikhanyiso Ngwenya.
For Njagu, this moment is about more than trophies.
It’s about rewriting the script for Zimbabwean film.
“It’s always a nice confirmation of the impact of a production,” he said, soaking in the victory.
“A win makes all the hard work worth it. For the local industry, it’s about getting international eyes on local stories, which is so important because films travel. And when they travel, they attract collaborations.”
The Lady Filmmakers Festival is no small fry. It’s a Beverly Hills institution that celebrates women behind the camera and the men who back them.
For a Zimbabwean story to dominate there, it’s historic.
And Rowlands is clear about the weight of it all:
“These categories are highly competitive, judged against films from across the world. To have a Zimbabwean story celebrated on such a stage, and to see our leadactors honoured, is incredibly meaningful.”
But beyond the glitz of Los Angeles red carpets, RISE has become a mirror for Zimbabwe’s evolving film culture.
For years, local cinema was trapped in what Njagu calls “the NGO era” — where classics like Neria and Yellow Card were made not for commercial success but donor-funded agendas.
It created talent, yes, but not a market.
Now, things are shifting.
“Artists are making their art and selling it commercially to get a return on investment,” Njagu said.
“Independent filmmaking is discovering its own identity, and that’s exciting.”
Still, Njagu is the first to admit that passion alone won’t sustain the industry.
“The sector needs to be supported from the top, and then it will ripple effect. We need the powers that be to invest in the creative sector — from policy to infrastructure.
“Co-production treaties, tax incentives, ease of access: these things will make it attractive to film in Zimbabwe.
“Right now, artists are wearing many hats to make things happen with very little. But one day is one day. Tinosvika.”
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, all eyes were on the cast.
Chirisa, already known for his Hollywood credits in iZombie and Palm Springs, delivered what Rowlands called one of his “most moving performances.”
But it was eight-year-old Sikhanyiso Ngwenya who stole hearts.
“Sikhanyiso brought emotional truth that was far beyond his years,” Rowlands said. To see him recognised on an international stage is historic — it’s a source of pride for Zimbabwe.”
For Rowlands, the victory is more than personal.
It’s a signal that Zimbabwean storytelling isn’t just capable of competing globally — it can lead.
“It’s a powerful validation that Zimbabwean stories resonate globally. Winning in Beverly Hills proves that talent from our country can stand alongside the best in the world.
“For me personally, it’s proof that telling authentic stories from home matters. And the momentum doesn’t stop here.”
Rowlands confirmed that RISE is now set to premiere at the Tribeca Festival 2025 in New York, a first for any Zimbabwean film.
“A feature-length version is already on her desk. The goal is always to push Zimbabwean cinema onto the global map while building sustainable opportunities at home,” she said.
Njagu is also preparing for his next blockbuster, Dilemma, which promises a star-studded ensemble including Luthuli Dlamini, Albert Nyathi, Farai Chigudu, and newcomer Chloe Thandeka Ncube in the lead.
It’s expected to drop at the end of this year. “This is the revolution I was talking about,” Njagu said with conviction.
“Zimbabwean filmmakers are building on small victories to reach bigger stages. We are proving that we can compete, we can tell global stories, and we can make films that travel.”
Mathew Masinge