If you were to ask the average Zimbabwean their opinion on creating more high-value film productions in the country, you’d likely get some variation of, “That’s impossible!” You would then be inundated with a litany of all the problems that would render your efforts useless because - unfortunately - the prevailing sentiment of our people is “can anything good come out of Zimbabwe?” 

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That’s why you’d need to turn your attention to the actual creatives, the people who are making things happen in this teapot country. Before long, you’ll discover films like Ruka, a two-minute fashion film showcasing the artistry of crochet and macrame garments, Daughter of the Soil, a 10min short film about discovering one’s identity and I Wear My Culture, a 60 minute documentary exploring the different cultures found in Zimbabwe and interpreting them into fashion. And after you’ve watched these films you’ll learn 3 important facts about Zimbabwe’s creative landscape and culture:

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1. Zimbabwe has epic locations

We tend to see the same kinds of locations in Zimbabwean film - a house, a neighbourhood, a theatre or conference centre, or an office. Though these locations work for the stories we normally tell, there is always the hunger for more. Ruka, Daughter of the Soil and I Wear My Culture definitely gave us more, transporting us across Zimbabwe to places that feel surreal in their beauty. Did you know you could shoot a beach scene in the heart of our teapot nation’s rural area? 

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2. Zimbabwean talent meets international standards

The perception that foreign (and especially western) is best has an iron hold on the African market. The majority of Africans feel that productions made outside of Africa are automatically better than those made locally. If we come across high quality African films, we are quick to assume the involvement of creatives from developed countries. But the truth is we have the talent we need to create world-class productions right here at home. Daughter of the Soil has been raking in awards since its premiere, and the other two films are not far behind. With such talent, a fully functional film industry is not only possible, but inevitable right here in Zimbabwe.

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3. Story (still) comes second

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It’s easy to get caught up in the breath-taking visuals and clever editing currently dominating Zimbabwean film, but what really keeps an audience’s attention is the story. Nonfiction productions tend to treat this as a secondary element, which hurts their overall return on investment as people quickly move on. Thankfully, I Wear My Culture brilliantly weaves a story around its premise, arresting the audience’s attention for a whole hour, thus showing the potency of an authentic African story.

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I hope this has opened your eyes to the opportunity that Zimbabwe presents for African (and indeed international) filmmakers. Do you have a film idea you’d like to test out? Reach out and let us know!

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