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A star-studded cast for Rooftop Promotions’ Wedding Night Film has been unveiled with a mixture of veterans who will give the film the much need depth in explaining own issues when one is marrying in a traditional Shona setting.
The film is being shot under Rooftop Promotions’ film wing, Creative Native.
The intricacies of understanding a traditional marriage and what it entails is the fate that is met by Farai and Chipo.

Chipo’s role is being played by the winner of the 2013 NAMA Award for Best Actress Nyaradzo Nhongonhema who brings her vast expertise in acting and has acted in plays such as “Farai and Chipo in Love”, “Pub Stories”. She holds Honours Degree in Theatre Arts and French from the University of Zimbabwe.

For the first time Nyaradzo meets Tapiwa Mavindidze “Farai’ who is not new to the big screen. Tapiwa Mavindidze is a former soap opera Studio 263 actor where he made his name as VJ and has also acted in Sinners as Romeo, Gringo the Trouble Maker and in a play “Desperate in Love”.

He has also featured in a number of local television drama series such as “Akanga Nyimo Avangarara” and “Kusasana Kunoparira”.
Complementing the two is Steven Chigorimbo “Max” who acts as Chipo’s father. He is a well known Zimbabwean filmmaker who became a household name playing John Huni in the soap opera Studio 263. He has been working in the film industry for over 30 years. He was the co-first assistant director and the African acting coach on Richard Attenborough’s Cry Freedom, as well as on the TV movie, Mandela.

Joice Mpofu, who is the Tete, was part of the play Wedding Night when it was showcased at Theatre in the Park. She has featured in plays such as Rituals, Heal the Wounds and The Coup. She has vast experience in both theatre and screen performances.

Other roles such as Chipo’s friend, is Getrude Munhamo “Lucy”, who was in Sinners as Samantha and was a nominee for the Best Actress on Film and Television Category in 2013 NAMA Awards.

Munhamo will also have another chance to rub shoulders with Caroline Mashingaidze, former Estate Blues soap opera actress and the two were part of the Sinners cast.

Stella January “Martha” Chipo’s mother is no stranger to the screen as she has vast experience in a lot of television drama series such “Dzamombe Dzemashanga” and “Murambiwa”. She has also acted in short films such as “The Team”, “Nyaminyami”, “Masimba, Pfuma”, “Gringo the Trouble Maker” and “Dust and Fortune”.

Veteran television actor Edmore Sandiforo “Amphah”, who was part of ZBCTV series “Tiriparwendo”, “Zambezi” and “Souls of Emmanuel” and Antony Tongani “Sekuru Tobias” who acted in Lobola and Legacies, a soap opera screen on Zimbabwe television, completes the cast.

The film is an adaptation from Stephen Chifunyise’s highly received play by the same name which is an exploration of the traditional ways of marriage in Zimbabwe. The film brings much appreciation into our marriage procedures and ceremonies.

Whilst friends and family persuade Farai to respect his traditional values and marry his lover in a traditional way, the idea is met with contempt from Chipo’s relatives but it proves to be the breakthrough and catalyst Farai wants to gain respect and acknowledgement from his in-laws especially from the father in-law.

The director of Wedding Night is Joe Njagu who directed Lobola and The Gentlemen, who will be working for the first time with renowned and awarding winning Rooftop Promotions Producer, Daves Guzha.

The film will be short during the month of August 2014 — Rooftop.