By Farayi Mungoshi

WRITING on the International Images Film Festival for women (IIFF) a few weeks ago, I expressed my dismay at the appalling turnout by film-makers to the festival.
I called on film-makers to unite and support each other in as far as the industry is concerned.
So, yes, I attended the closing night of the Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) with the sole purpose of finding out, or rather confirming, if the message got through or not, or if, in fact, we should blame lack of advertising for poor turnout to these events.
As I got to number two Canterbury Road in Kensington, Harare, where the Zimbabwe International Film Festival was being held, at 3pm on Saturday last week, what caught my attention first were children’s voices, conversing and laughing.
I thought I had come to the wrong venue as I entered and saw children playing around and then I remembered there was a ZIFF Kids Day that afternoon.
That was definitely a star for the organisers.
If you want to groom children to take up a certain career path, it is best to expose them to their options at a tender age.
My parents used to take me to some of these events while growing up and I must say it was because of some of those moments in my childhood that made me decide on my career move later on in life.
I met up with one of the organisers of the festival, Nakai Matema.
I asked her if the turnout had improved.
She said that it could be better but they had had a very supportive and charged crowd.
“It’s been fun,” she added.
I nodded in agreement but sceptically; after all, this was the reason I had come, to see if film-makers are ready to take their place in the Second Republic — supporting one another.
We can do a lot of productions, but for as long as we are divided, we are heading nowhere.
As the sun set, more and more people started trickling in and soon, the bar was abuzz.
The atmosphere was charged and as I walked around, I would meet faces I had not seen and talked to for months or even for years.
It was like a small reunion, the Munya Chidzongas and Dorothy Mecks, among many others, were present.
Even though there were some missing faces, it was definitely a bigger and much better turnout than we’d earlier witnessed at the end of last month.
Some still maintained that had there been better advertising, we’d have witnessed an even bigger turnout.
Eric Witzgall from MMX said such an event should attract all film-makers regardless of which stable they belong to or who is doing what — this is ZIFF.
Echoing his sentiments in her presentation during the Awards night, Nakai Matema expressed dissatisfaction.
She said ZIFF had held several film forums and workshops with speakers who included Tendai Chitima and Ignatious Mabasa, but only a few film-makers turned up.
“We had great film forums, great workshops and presentations but we need to learn to support each other a bit more,” said Matema.
“Though we were streaming live on facebook, nothing beats attending, asking questions and networking.”
Matema hailed the many productions happening around the country which she said indicated that Zimbabwean film was on the rise.
The films presented during the festival, which ran under the theme ‘African Narratives’, were required to carry an African theme promoting and celebrating African culture and heritage.
African film-makers have been lambasted for failing to tell the African story.
The highlight of the closing night was the awards ceremony, in particular the Safirio Madzikatire Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Susan Chenjerai (Amai Rwizi from Mukadota Family), Dick Chingaire (Cde Chinx), Freddie Manjalima (Kapfupi) and Rory Kilalea.
The roof came down when Lazarus Boora, better known as Gringo, was called out to receive his award and had the crowd chanting “Gringo! Gringo! Gringo!”
Other film-makers who received awards that night were Munashe Chitsiga who got the MMX Rental Award for a five-minute short film – Where is home?; Keith Shaba for This is a Call; Best Zimbabwean Actor, Stephen Chigorimbo in Mukanya; Best Zimbabwean Actress, Tendaiishe Chitima in Cook Off; Best Zimbabwean Documentary, Legends of Chimurenga 2 — Part One, by Ashwin Sikereta; and Best Zimbabwean Feature Film, Cook Off, by Tomas Brickhill.
On international films, the Best Feature Film award went to Zambia’s I am not a Witch; Best International Documentary, Global Family (Germany) and Best International Short Film, Lalo’s House (Haiti).
I urge film-makers to clear calendars and make time for festivals and other events relevant for the growth of the Zimbabwean film industry.
Well done to Nigel Munyati, Nakai Matema and team for organising a successful festival.