By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
The European Film Festival is back in Harare beginning 27 to 30 October 2022!
After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 6th edition of the European Film Festival Zimbabwe will be hosted live at MMX.
The festival is a platform to share, promote and create exchange between African and European culture, focusing on Zimbabwean filmmakers.
For four days, 15 African and 12 European movies will be showcased in Harare in free of charge.
Much more than movies, this year’s edition celebrates the success of previous editions, and in particular on the wide range of activities.
The festival is not only about screening movies in Harare and Bulawayo, it also includes input conferences, a masterclass, a short film competition, and a curated selection of African cinema.
Charlene Mangweni, director, producer, actress and radio personality among other things, is one of the influential participants at the festival.
Contrary to popular thinking, a film crew is not made of just the director, actors, cameraman and editors.
From make-up artists, to script supervisors, to set designers and the characters, Charlene will go through some of the overlooked media jobs that need to be created and maintained to make the local industry more professional and combat rampant unemployment in Zimbabwe.
A talent incubator
There is a lot of artistic talent in Zimbabwe, especially in the film industry. Too often thistalent remains unknown.
The festival has come in to offer emerging filmmakers the opportunity to show their work on a wider scale.
The BIOSKOP Short Film Competition is a good example of a talent incubator.
· 41 short films from emerging Zimbabwean talents, competing in 5 different categories: Best Narrative, Best Cinematography, Best Documentary, Best Sound and Best Diaspora.
· A jury seasoned and renowned professionals: Kalai Barlow, Matthieu Eberhardt, Daniel Lasker, Sibongile Mlambo, Tongayi Chirisa
· 5 winners: Best Narrative – CHINGWA directed by Mordekai Beven Musona
Best Cinematography – LIFE OF THE EXTREMELY BEAUTIFUL directed by Derrick Manieca
Best Documentary – BASKETRY IN BINGA directed by Prosper Kunyetu
Best Sound-Editing – EXODUS: A Journey to New Worlds directed by Danayi Madondo & Derrick Manieca
Best Diaspora – ERUPTION directed by Sinomtha Nduna
Film enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the winner shorts at the opening event on Thursday 5:30pm at MMX.
“Culture opens doors for greater understanding and cohesion between peoples.” said Jobst Von Kirchmann, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Zimbabwe
The EUFF, is held in two parts — one in Bulawayo and one in Harare.
This year’s the festival is in its 6th edition having been created in 2017.
At last 12 European films will be screened from: Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and European Union Delegation.
BIOSKOP Short Film Competition: This year 41 films from emerging Zimbabwean filmmakers competed under 5 categories (Best Narrative, Best Cinematography, Best Documentary, Best Sound and Best Diaspora).
Short Film Competition Judges were Kalai Barlow, Mattieu Eberhardt, Daniel Lasker, Sibongile Mlambo, Tongayi Chirisa.
MASTERCLASS: a learning program focused on equipping filmmakers with professional solutions for high standard film production.
INPUT Sessions: A conference focused on the business side of film, hosted in Bulawayo and Harare, curated by Alex Gwaze
FILAMU of African short films: a selection of 10 Pan African short Films. This year’s showcase is curated by Nkosi Kwanele and Mercy Mangwana.
The film selection features short films from Zimbabwe, Rwanda/Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Uganda, DRC, Kenya, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
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