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Mathew Masinge Arts Correspondent
Thinking Films, a new initiative which is a brainchild of award-winning filmmakers Joe Njagu and UK-based Agnieszka Piotrowska has hailed local actors and actresses for their talents. The two film directors bent on telling African contemporary stories with an international appeal held auditions for their two upcoming feature films “Short Time” and “The Escape”.

The two films which are set to be shot in Zimbabwe and later on in England this February and March saw several actors and actresses including “Dead End” star Conrad Mwanawashe, singer Selmor Mtukudzi, former Big brother housemate JJ, Coke on the Beat presenter Tich Maruziva and others turning up for the open auditions.

“We are so touched with the response from local Zimbabwean film actors, we think the call we made got the attention of many and the talent that showed up proved just awesome. ‘‘We are now going through our utmost selection process and that will produce an A-list of actors who will travel around Zimbabwe and England for the shooting” said co-director Agnieszka Piotrowska.

She said the range of amazing talent will however make the selection process difficult hence the call for another audition. “We must say Zimbabwe has great potential in the film industry and by so saying so we are calling for another audition so that we can come up with a clear cut edge of the final cast”, she said.

The “Married to the Eiffel Tower” documentary author said they will be opening a consultancy for local actors. “We will be offering consultancy and media training opportunities to local actors so that they can integrate on their skills by taking Zimbabwe on the map”, she said.

Piotrowska and Jagu’s film “Lovers in Time” recently won an award at Mumbai International Film Festival. Jagu directed “Lobola” and “The Gentleman” and won a major prize for the latter in the USA in 2011. He was recently nominated for best music video director.

Piotrowska has been nominated for major international prizes and won some for documentaries mostly. She is mostly known for the iconic documentary “Married to the Eiffel Tower” which screened in 60 countries.