Cinema society to transform film industry
THE Cinema Society of Zimbabwe (CSZ) says it is geared to take the film industry to another level through its flagship programmes Chaminuka Master Class Film workshops and Tobela Nkwala.
Established last year in March, CSZ is meant to develop and promote a sustainable film industry through fostering synergies between filmmakers and several stakeholders, including government.
The organisation’s founding president Mapfumo Katsaya (pictured) told NewsDay Life & Style that Chaminuka Master Class Film workshops would run from July to October at learning institutions catering for scholars and non-academics.
He added that Tobela Nkwala, a documentary production programme, had been running since the beginning of the year.
“We are now geared to navigate the film industry. For the past 12 months, we have been laying the foundation for our programmes, reaching out to filmmakers as well as touching base with government ministries and agencies,” he said.
“We feel we have built a solid foundation and also we are now clearer of where we want to be and how we can get there. The Chaminuka Master Class Film workshops will train aspiring filmmakers the art of filmmaking from conceptualisation to consumption. The trainings will include screenwriting, production, directing, cinematography, marketing and distribution.”
Katsaya said Tobela Nkwala documentaries would focus on Zimbabwean Chimurenga stories and they would be led by CSZ programmes director Sharon Happiness Maisiri.
“We are currently on research stage and production will commence once we are done. We want to tell a true Zimbabwean narrative to help preserve our rich history and cultural heritage,” he said.
“The organisation will work with several production houses and distributors to achieve its goals. We are still talking with other organisations to ensure a smooth flow from film production to consumption.”
The CSZ has over 48 members across the country at the moment, with offices in Harare and Bulawayo.
Other CSZ interim board members are Richard Tentone, who is the secretarygeneral and Edith Gambinya, the treasurer.