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Nigel Munyati

Jonathan Mbiriyamveka Entertainment Reporter
Public television, which has for long enjoyed a monopoly, is on the verge of collapse as it is fast losing out to private satellite television channels which offer better quality programming, a Zimbabwe International Film Festival Trust official has said.
The move is likely to see an average Zimbabwean unable to watch television due to costs that come with investing in satellite television or pay-per-view television channels.

“Public television is dying with the coming of pay-per-view channels and other satellite televisions which means an average Zimbabwean will be unable to watch TV.

However, as ZIFF we have the INPUT in which public broadcasters like ZBC could make use of and buy some of the films.

“We are hoping to convince ZBCTV to buy these films under the INPUT programme which are affordable,” Nigel Munyati, acting director and founding trustee said.

Asked how the donor fatigue had affected ZIFF operations in the last five years, Munyati said there was a difference between the previous editions and the upcoming festival.

“There are lessons we have learnt from looking back and, yes, there is a difference from what it festival) was  and what it could be.

“We’re a unique festival and a hub for filmmakers in Zimbabwe. Since the festival was not held last year it was due to lack of funding but also partly because the festival  wasn’t being run professionally.

“We don’t have the outreach programmes which we used to hold in Bulawayo, Chitungwiza and Norton as well as the awards ceremony,” he said.

According to Munyati, this year’s festival was bigger in terms of the impact and reach to its target audience.
“We are bringing four German filmmakers who will mentor three upcoming Zimbabwean filmmakers in producing three short films.

There is also a workshop open to film students from ZIFTESSA, Midlands State University and Chinhoyi University of Technology,” he said.

Previously, the  festival would run for 10 days but now it will span for just four days starting from December 10 to 14 in Harare only under the theme “A Retrospective Looking Back Through Independent Eyes”.

The theme for the festival allows people to look into the growth and journey that Zimbabwe has taken since independence to today through the eye of film.

It also allows filmmakers and movie-goers to select the best from an unlimited number of films that were produced in Zimbabwe either as wholly

Zimbabwean productions or as co-productions with other countries.

The festival will also look back at dedicated filmmakers that have illuminated the film scene, whether deceased or living, namely Godwin Mawuru, David Gwaza, Rumbi Katedza, Ben Zulu, Simon Shumba, Tsitsi Dangarembga and Nakai Matema among others.

The Safirio Madzikatire Award for distinguished contribution to film will give the industry the opportunity to reflect on the good work being done in film, despite the challenging economic environment.

To date Madzikatire remains one of the best actors ever in the Zimbabwe film industry.