Zimbabwe has an active film culture that includes films made in Zimbabwe during its pre- and post-colonial periods. Economic crisis and political crisis have been features of the industry.^[1] A publication from the 1980s counted 14 cinemas in Zimbabwe's capital city, Harare.^[2] According to a 1998 report only 15 percent of the population had been to a cinema.^[3] European and American films have been made on location in Zimbabwe as well as Indian films. American films are popular in Zimbabwe but face restrictions limiting their distribution.^[4]

History

Great Britain's Colonial Film Unit was active in Zimbabwe.^[5][6] Zimbabwe's post-colonial government has worked to sponsor film development.^[5] Germany helped fund a film training and production program.^[7]

Festivals

The Zimbabwe Film Festival

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Zimbabwean directors include Tsitsi Dangarembga, Rumbi Katedza, Roger Hawkins (film director), Godwin Mawuru, Michael Raeburn, Farai Sevenzo, Ingrid Sinclair, Sydney Taivavashe, and Edwina Spicer.

Zimbabwean actors include: Munya Chidzonga, Tongayi Chirisa, Adam Croasdell, John Indi, Dominic Kanaventi, Edgar Langeveldt, Tawanda Manyimo, l Cont Mhlanga and Lucian Msamati. Zimbabwean actresses include Chipo Chung, Carole Gray, Kubi Indi, and Sibongile Mlambo.

Several films cover the Rhodesian Bush War.

Zimbabwe hosts the International Images Film Festival for Women and Zimbabwe International Film Festival.

Keith Shiri is a Zimbabwean film curator.

Films

Films from Rhodesia:

• Shangani Patrol (1968)
• Albino (1976), a German thriller

Films from Zimbabwe include:

• King Solomon's Mines (1985), an action adventure film shot in Zimbabwe
• Kizhakku Africavil Sheela (1987), a Tamil language film largely shot in Zimbabwe
• A World Apart (1988), the film addresses apartheid
• Jit (1990)^[8]
• White Hunter Black Heart (1990), an American film shot in Zimbabwe
• Neria (1993)
• Everyone's Child (1995)
• Flame (1996), set during the Rhodesian Bush War
• Forbidden Fruit (2000)
• Lumumba (2000), a French language film about Patrice Lumumba filmed in Zimbabwe
• The Legend of the Sky Kingdom (2003), an animated film
• Tanyaradzwa (2005)
• Mugabe and the White African (2009), a documentary
• iThemba (2010), a documentary about a band
• Sores of Emmanuel (2010), a film about a single father's hope, written and directed by Eddie Ndhlovu
• Something Nice from London (2013)
• Democrats (2014), a Danish documentary about politics in Zimbabwe
• Thandie's Diary (2018), a film about gender based violence against women written and directed by Eddie Ndhlovu.
• Gonarezhou (2019), an anti-poaching film
• Nyanga (2024), a film about pride, inspired by a ranger who defended his cause against poachers. Written by Eddie Ndhlovu and directed by Eddie Ndhlovu and Jakov Dakovic.

References