ReInventing Zimbabwe's Film Industry

The national arts council of Zimbabwe has begun the process of drafting a strategy for the Zimbabwe film sector, which is expected to revitalize and expand the sector, confirmed NACZ director Nicholas Moyo.

In a statement from the council, “ The Film strategy follows the successful launch of the Zimbabwe Music Strategy on the 1st of June 2022 and part of the NACZ vision of having different cultural and creative sector (CCS) strategies produced in the mold of the national  and cultural and creative industries strategy (NCCIS) launched by the government in 2020.”

The council seeks to make use of the expertise obtained by the team comprising stuff and CCS members while crafting the Music strategy to develop the Film strategy. There are also hopes that these expects would do the same for visual, literally and other sectors as well.

“Film and television have become the second sector to have a strategy developed following the realization that the production and distribution of film and audio-visual works is one of the most dynamic growth sectors in the world, with a huge potential for attracting commercial investment and capacity employ a large number of youths and women in high-skilled jobs,” Moyo said.

“The television and film strategy is meant to respond to the challenges bedeviling the local industry, which include the largely informal nature of operations by players, piracy and illegal exploitation of audio-visual content as well as a lack of clear distribution infrastructure” he added.

More so, is a response to the challenges faced by the local sector which mainly includes the informal operations by people in the industry, piracy and illegal exploitation of audio-visual content and the lack of distribution means for local content. 

The Film strategy is also expected to make use of women behind and in front of the camera, the licensing of new television stations and the new ability to monetize online content on social media platforms YouTube, Netflix and other prospective local mobile video services. 

The film and television workshop attracted many filmmakers from across all continents, who also got involved in the examination of the industry in Zimbabwe, which involved the nomination for the 23 available positions for the national team tasked with coming up with a strategy.

Appointed persons included professionals in the industry and academia namely Raisedon Baya, Joseph Bunga, Knox Chatiza, Munyaradzi Chidzonga, Stephen Chigorimbo, Kudzai Chikomo, Kelvin Chikonzo, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Daves Guzha, Rumbidzai Katedza, Marian Kunonga, Ben Mahaka, Nakai Matema, Ignatius Matope, Nhamo Mhiripiri, Cont Mhlanga, Charles Munganasa, Antony Mutambira, Joe Njagu, Amanda Ranganawa, Priscila Sithole, Richard Tenton and Rino Zhuwarara.

However, prominent and young award winning writer/director of Nehanda, Gonarezhou and Poor cousins was not satisfied by his exclusion from the board pointing out his contributions to the local industry as an independent filmmaker should be recognized.

In a post on his instagram page “I am failing to understand how a national board as big as the National Arts council of Zimbabwe dicides to formulate a film strategy ignoring the people who are actually out there making film”

“Me not being part of that board I think it shows how they’re treating the film industry in Zimbabwe,. I have been the most impactful filmmaker in the country in the past 3 years to say my voice is not important in comimg up with a strategy that can make our industry grow is utter disrespect. Everthing that the board is seeking to achieve, I’m doing it on a practical level” he added.

He also took the time to appreciate those whole had been appointed on the board, “…no disrespect to the team that has been selected, some of them inspired me and others are my friends.”

According to the latest Unesco African Film Industry Report, the film sector accounts for over US$5 billion in revenues and employs over five million people across the African continent, with potential to generate US$20 billion and employ up to 20 million people.