Ziyanda casts net wider

Bruce Ndlovu
Producers of the Katlego Danke-powered flick Ziyanda are looking to partner content suppliers from around the continent as they battle to bring the ambitious human trafficking film to life.

Ziyanda, a star studded affair that is set to bring some of the best small and big screen talents from Zimbabwe and South Africa together, was initially expected to start shooting in September last year but a lack of funds necessitated a postponement.

Produced and directed by South Africa-based Zimbabwean filmmaker Thabo Sibanda, the film tackles the scourge of human trafficking around the continent.

The cast for the movie includes former Generations actress Danke, Rhythm City actress Zintle Ncipha, local actress Penelope Moyo, ZBCTv presenter Nyasha Mtamangira and gospel musician, Pastor G.

The filma��s executive producer Dumisani Nkomo said that the film was looking to partner broadcasters from around the Southern African region and beyond.

a�?We are looking to work with terrestrial channels from around the region. Simply moving around and asking for help from corporate entities is not enough although we are still in talks with a few that we cana��t disclose at this moment,a�? he said.

Nkomo said that the change in tact had come after the realisation that they needed to market the film as a business product. He said that the new arrangement was to secure the right distribution channels before the release of the film.

a�?Our focus is on making sure that once the film is packaged as a business product then it can be marketed and distributed more effectively. After everything is tied down then filming can be done in three or four months,a�? he said.

Nkomo said that he was not worried about the original cast leaving the project, as only the main characters had binding contracts.

a�?The casting originally was for the trailer only so no one except for the likes of Katlego Danke, has a binding contract.

We will recast when it is time to begin shooting again,a�? he said.