Overview of the Audiovisual Scene in Zimbabwe - June 2001|
by John Riber, Director Media For Development Trust Zimbabwe is only 21 years old. Film Production One of the remarkable features of Zimbabwe, and what attracted me to the country 15 years ago, was The Central Film Laboratories, a full-fledged film laboratory that could handle 16mm and 35mm color and black processing and printing and housed a sound mixing facility. During the 60ies and 70ies, The Central Film Laboratories was the premiere laboratory of the southern Africa, attracting work from the region, including South Africa. CFL was nationalized shortly after independence and deteriorated over the following decade. It was finally abandoned about 3-4 years ago, closing down in December 1996, I believe. Traditionally, the core of film production and distribution in Zimbabwe was owned, operated and controlled by government. Production Services, a wing of the Ministry of Information, was a well-equipped production center (with cameras, lights and editing tables). Production Services was very prolific during the war years producing mostly propaganda films to fuel the war effort, aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the rural population. They also produced educational films on agricultural techniques for rural audiences. These films were delivered through the Mobile Film Units of the Rural Information Services. At one stage there were thirty mobile units touring the country, reaching a third of the country’s predominantly rural population. What was very interesting about these Mobile Film Units was that they were subsidized significantly through advertising by the private sector. The first decade of independence saw a decline in the output of films from Production Services and the function of the Mobile Film Units. The institutions seemed to lose their purpose. A shift in the new Government’s national and political priorities lead to reduced budgets for film production. This had a serious negative impact on CFL as well. The Film Lab (with processing in Johannesburg and Cape town) are world class, Image Care facilities, well equipped to serve the limited film processing and printing requirements from the region. Foreign productions Post Independence saw a flurry of International (American and European) films being shot in Zimbabwe. The better know films dealt with anti-apartheid themes, using Zimbabwe as a location for South Africa. Attenboroughs, CRY FREEDOM, Eugene Palsy’s A DRY WHITE SEASON and A WORLD APART were some of the films shot in Zimbabwe during the decade after independence. Zimbabwe’s ideal climate, stunning locations, excellent infrastructure and cheap labor continued to attract international film and television productions until very recently. LUMUMBA was filmed in Zimbabwe during April/May 1999. As a result, Zimbabwe now has a pool of experienced crew, who have worked along-side some of the best in the world. Local productions The first local dramatic film made in Zimbabwe was CONSEQUENCES, shot in 1987. The first feature length film was JIT, shot in April 1990 followed by NERIA shot in October the same year. Seven independent feature films and many short films have been shot in Zimbabwe since 1990. They include MORE TIME; I AM THE FUTURE, FLAME, EVERYONE’S CHILD and YELLOW CARD. Two of these were financed with private, commercial investment and have yet to realize a return for the investors. The rest were sponsored with donor and corporate support. Most productions being made in Zimbabwe today are either advertisements or short, educational video programs for donor funded projects. Production companies There are about a dozen video production companies of repute. These mostly focus on commercial work for advertising companies. Very few work with film. There are only two AVID editing facilities in the country, along with a few other non-linear editing facilities including two Fast Machines, a couple Sony models and the likes. There is only one serious graphics house. While there is only one serious post-production film/video sound facility, there are around a dozen audio recording studios, fueling Zimbabwe’s remarkable music recording industry. Film/Video production in Zimbabwe has been serious affected by the recent political and economic problems. Distribution/Exhibition Cinema Zimbabwe has approximately 40 screens, 20 of which are in the capital Harare. We just learned that at the end of June, this will be reduced by ten screens with the closure of Ster-kinekor cinemas, due to the lack of forex to pay rentals. Six of these screens were built two years ago. This is a big blow as Zimbabwe has a very active film going culture; the second largest market in Sub-Sahara Africa, after South Africa. Television We only have one national television network, owned and operated by the Government. A second station reaches Harare only and is very much under government control. There is some local productions, but nothing of great significance coming out of our national television. A new broadcasting policy has called for 70% local programming, but under the current Government control, there is not much opportunity for meaningful involvement of independent producers. Video We have hundreds of video rental libraries across the country. All but one or two are stocked with pirated, predominantly Hollywood product. Quite recently two professional vhs dubbing facilities have been established which have made a big difference for our organization, in terms of effectively distributing bulk quantities of locally produced films and videos. For example, we have distributed over 3000 copies of Yellow Card in Zimbabwe, because of these facilities. The reputation that Zimbabwe has earned and enjoyed as a strong film production center in the region is primarily the result of our distribution efforts across Africa. MFD productions are among the most widely seen and used films made on the continent. |
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