BY AGATHA CHUMA THE Midlands State University (MSU)’s arts and film department is on cloud nine after scooping the first prize for the Hi5 and Smartphone short film competition at the recently-held Zimbabwe International Film Festival.
The winning film, titled Tsvakai, is centred on promoting Zimbabwean culture with a special focus on narratives from Zimbabwe acknowledging the complexity and depth of African heritage.
Under the Hi5 category, the film Tsvakai was up against Pamusha by Dar Shumba Nyamuzihwa, Dept Clearance by Kumbilani Ncube, Nhaka by Jonathan Samukange and Trees of Mhondoro by Lynette Gonga and Denslow Kisi.
Speaking to NewsDay Life & Style, the film’s editor and producer Brighton Munaku said he was overwhelmed with the success of the film.
“As a lecturer (film studies) to the students who featured on Tsvakai, I feel so honoured and happy at the same time for winning the first prize which is something big for our department as well as the institution,” he said.
“I am proud of my team who are part of this production.
”Although they are still in school, I am happy that they already possess the skills of professional film makers. Well done MSU, we did it guys.”
The university’s chairperson of the Media, Communication, Film and Theater Arts department, Ephraim Vhutuza also expressed his delight towards the students’ achievement.
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“Bagging of a floating trophy and a television decoder at the Varsity Film Expo graced by his Excellency Emmerson Mnangagwa is just the beginning of greater things to come for the Department of Media, Communication, Film and Theater Arts,” he said.
“With support from the university community, the department is poised for phenomenal growth and poised to conquer the Zimbabwean and African film and theatre spaces.”
The award came on the heels of another gong as the university was adjudged second runner-up at the Varsity Film Expo recently held in Bulawayo, in addition to the Best Exhibitor University against National University of Science and Technology, Great Zimbabwe University, University of Zimbabwe, Chinhoyi University of Technology and Lupane State University.
- Follow Agatha on Twitter @AgathaChuma
