Cinema Society of Zimbabwe announces nominees for the inaugural Zimbabwe Annual Film and Television Awards (ZAFTAs)

INNOCENT VEREMU & KINGSTONE ZIMUNYA

HARARE – In a welcome move for the film and television industry, the Cinema Society of Zimbabwe has announced the Zimbabwe Annual Film and Television Awards (ZAFTAs), slated for 2 December at Wisdom City Church.

The nominees were officially announced on October 28. The theme for inaugural edition of the awards is "Leveraging Business Synergies for Global Impact". 

The Zimbabwe Annual Film and Television Awards (ZAFTAs) is an initiative aimed at recognising and celebrating exceptional contributions to the Zimbabwean film and television industry. 

It provides a prestigious platform to recognize exceptional talent and achievements in the film and television industry. The ultimate goal is to foster creativity, talent development, and the growth of the local entertainment industry. 

Richard Tentone, publicist of the ZAFTA's, asserted that this is the right time to launch the ZAFTA's, for the economic and creative contribution that film makes to Zimbabwe has been downplayed if not ignored for too long. 

"The Zimbabwean film and television space has been robbed for a long time. The absence of a platform that recognises hardwork and creativity was a stumbling block," he bemoans. 

He believes the awards will offer an anecdote to these issues bedeliving the film and television industry. 

He speaks further, "We believe that the awards will shine the spotlight not only on the talent but also the economic contribution of the sector into the GDP of the country."

Tentone confirmed the overwhelming number of submissions they received, a testament to the remarkable talent and creativity within our industry.  

There are an extensive thirty five categories spanning TV series, cinematography, directing, acting, feature films, writing, costume design, documentaries, and animation. The ZAFTAs is bent on recognising players from across the film and television industry.

In the Television categories, 3kTV drama Faking It rules the roost with eight nominations in the Outstanding TV Series, Outstanding Achievement in Writing for a TV series, Outstanding Editing for a TV Series, Outstanding Wardrobe and Costume Design, Nakai Tsuro for Outstanding Directing for a TV Series, Munashe Chitsiga for Outstanding Cinematography in a TV Series, Gamu Denenga for Outstanding TV Actress and Lucian T David for Outstanding TV Actor 

Amanxeba has seven nominations, including both the Outstanding and Popular Television Series categories. The show also got nods for Outstanding Writing for a TV series, Outstanding Editing for a TV Series, Outstanding Wardrobe and Costume Design, and Outstanding Indigenous Culture, Language and Tradition in a TV Series. Director John Mabuyane is nominated for Outstanding Directing for a TV Series. 

ZTN drama Intab'enkulu has an impressive seven nominations including Outstanding Actor and Actress by Greatjoy Hlatshawayo and Katongo Mutale respectively. They also got nominated for Outstanding Cinematography, Outstanding Directing, Outstanding Editing, and Outstanding Achievement in Writing. 

They are tied for nominations with 3Ktv series Jangano, whose Sipilisiwe Kaikeni is nominated for Outstanding Actress. 

Expectedly, Mai Chisamba is nominated for two awards Popular Television Show, and Outstanding TV Presenter where's she's pitted against veteran sportscaster Charles Mabika. 

Kizazi Moto Generation Fire: Mukudzei, which featured as part of a Disney+ anthology of African animation is nominated for The Outstanding Animation Award, alongside My Name is My Name and Bhutsu naShatireki.  

The Outstanding Feature Film is hotly contested by four impressive films that tell the Zimbabwean story. The nominees are Ngoda, which is set in the Marange diamond rush of the late 2000's; The Letter, which speaks on the infamous retrenchments of 2015; horror thriller Nevanji, which is Tafadzwa Ranganai's directorial debut; and Cavern, which dramatises the life of illegal miners in a touching manner. 

It is interesting to note that the films are all directed by Joe Njagu for The Letter and Ngoda; and Tafadzwa Ranganai for Cavern and Nevanji. They become the only nominees for Best Achievement in Directing in a Feature Film Award for their respective films. 

Mhondoro Dreams Productions received a whopping nine nominations across seven categories. The bulk of the nominations are for the Nyamatsatse documentary series, a collaboration with acclaimed filmmaker and Nyamatsatse Festival co-founder Fungai Makoni.

The three part series received multiple nominations for Outstanding Documentary Feature Award (Series 2 and Series 3), Outstanding Educational Programme for TV, and Outstanding Indigenous Language Award in a Film (Series 3) . 

Another production, We Are Children Of The Stars, received a nomination for Outstanding Documentary Short Award and Outstanding Indigenous Language Award in a Film. They also got a nod in Outstanding Animation category for Nzara – Hunger. 

They also received a nomination for Gushungo in the Outstanding Reality Competition TV Show category and the Outstanding Documentary Short Award. 

Speaking to Zimsphere, Klara Anna Rossa — Creative Content Director of Mhondoro Dreams Productions says, "It feels amazing. It feels really encouraging. Ndinofara chaizvo (sic). Congratulations to the whole team, I'm not alone in the making of these films. There are so many people who have lent their effort, equipment, voices, time, and energy to create, build, remember, to find the beautiful things that keep us all going."

She alluded to the importance of the ZAFTA's to the filmmaking industry in Zimbabwe, and appreciated everyone who makes up part of it. "I want to congratulate all of the nominees and non-nominees who are out there working hard. It's good to have these awards for the diversity and the community of the industry. When people come together and celebrate the film industry and the people involved it's beautiful human and encouraging," beams Rossa. 

The ZAFTA's are an extension of the work the CSZ is doing to develop the filmmaking industry in Zimbabwe. They provide training and development programmes to emerging Zimbabwean filmmakers. In 2022, they trained thirty six young filmmakers in Film and Television production, in partnership with Dream House Pictures.

There is also the Jakwara Short Film Competition, a partnership between CSZ and Nhaka Productions, which develops future filmmakers through a competitive platform. 

Whether you are a fan of TV series, a cinephile, or appreciate the art of filmmaking through feature films and documentaries, ZAFTAs offers something for everyone.  

Don't miss out on this huge milestone in Zimbabwean film and television history, live on 3Ktv. Below is the full list of nominations:

 1. Outstanding TV Series

• A High School Diary

• Jangano

• Intab’enkulu

• Faking It

• Amanxeba

2. Outstanding Cinematography for a TV Series

• Faking It (Munashe Chitsiga)

• Jangano (Leo Ericks Jakata)

• Intab’enkulu (Ngonie G. Nyembe)

• Viva Wenera (Eddie Ndlovu)

• A High School Diary

3. Outstanding Directing for a TV Series

• Amanxeba (John Mabuyane)

• Faking It (Nakai Tsuro)

• Jangano (Welensky Kaseke)

• Maliwe (

• Intab’enkulu (Kuda Bryan Bwititi)

4. Outstanding Editing for a TV Series

• Jangano

• Intab’enkulu

• Maliwe

• Faking It

• Amanxeba

5. Outstanding TV Actress

• Charlene Mangweni (Tangled)

• Gamu Denenga (Faking It)

• Sipilisiwe Kaikeni (Jangano)

• Kudzai Makusha (Broken Lives)

• Katongo Mutale (Intab’enkulu)

6. Outstanding TV Actor

• Tanaka Munyavhi (A High School Diary)

• Lucian T David (Faking It)

• Andrew Chitembure (Broken Lives)

• Tendai Madzviti (Bundu)

• Greatjoy Hlatswayo (Intab’enkulu)

7. Outstanding TV Presenter

• Moya

• Mazwi

• Mai Chisamba

• Charles Mabika

• Candice Mwakalyelye

8. Outstanding Children’s Program

• Mouth of Babes

• Street Talk

• Bhutsu na Shhatireki

• My Bible My Treasure

• Funky Eggs

9. Outstanding Achievement in Wardrobe and Costume Design for TV

• Hakata

• Amanxeba

• Jangano

• Faking It

• Marbles

10. Outstanding Achievement in Writing for a TV Series

• Intab’enkulu

• Jangano

• Faking It

• Amanxeba

• Tangled

11. Outstanding Educational Programme for TV

• Nyamatsatse series 3: The stories of the plants

• Bread Basket

• Agri Business

• Incredible Farmers

• So Now I am A Vegan

• Street Talk

12. Outstanding Indigenous Culture, Language and Tradition in a TV

Series

• Hakata

• Maliwe

• Tangled

• Amanxeba

• A High School Diary

• Bundu

13. Outstanding TV Documentary Series

• Mhosva -Ritual Murder

• Maitirwo Azvo

• Madii Mambofamba

• Weekend in the Wild Episode 1

14. Outstanding Reality Competition TV Show

• Squad Games

• Family Honour

• Spark Episode 5

15. Popular Television Series

• Viva Wenera

• Tangled

• Estate Blues

• Muzita raBaba

• Soulmate

• Amanxeba

16. Popular Television Show

• Mai Chisamba Show

• The Morning Rush

• The Daily Dose

• Budget Buys

17. Outstanding Feature Film Award

• Ngoda

• The Letter

• Nevanji

• Cavern

18. Outstanding Documentary Feature Award

• Transactions

• Chosen

• Nyamatsatse Series 3: The Stories of The Plants

• Nyamatsatse Series 2: Guruuswa: A Zimbabweans Origins Story

19. Outstanding Documentary Short Award

• The Goddess in Zim

• Fresh Farm

• My name is patience

• Create Zim: Art across cities

• We are children of the stars

• Gushungo

20. Outstanding Student Film Award

• Black Ultraviolet

• If These Walls Were Wallets

• My Wife

• The Voices

• Third Law

21. Outstanding Short Film Award

• Veza The Unfolding

• My Wife

• Sow Reaper

• Daughter Of the Soil

• At The End of The Rainbow

• Ikasi The Hood

22. Outstanding Animation Award

• Kizazi Moto Generation Fire: Mukudzei

• My Name Is My Name

• Bhutsu Na Shatireki

• Nzara – Hunger

23. Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film Award

• Eddie Sandifolo as Tindo Toropido in Ngoda

• Taurai Kawara as Gora in Ngoda

• Felix Machingambi as Comrade

• Arthur Antonio in Nevanji

• Emmanuel Mbirima as Simon in The Letter

• Calvin Madula as Detective Mxolisi Moyo in Veza the Unfolding

24. Outstanding Actress in a Film

• Charmaine Mujeri as Bhuru in Ngoda

• Runyararo Nhunzvi as Sonai in Inbox

• Nothando Nobengula in Nevanji

• Eunice Tava in Faith - Rutendo

• Florence Makamure in Zvemoyo

• Mary Mpandahama as mother in Cocoon

25. Outstanding Performance in the Diaspora Award

• Phumelele Mkhize as Spe in Wolves Among Sheep

• Nhlanhla Dlamini as Thabo in Wolves Among Sheep

26. Outstanding Screenwriting for Film

• Virginia Jekanyika for Mirage script

• Joe Njagu for Ngoda script

• Tafadzwa Ranganai for Nevanji script

• Tinashe Dorebheni for Maoko Akandirera script

27. Best Achievement in Directing Award in a Feature Film

• Joe Njagu & Eddie Sandifolo for Ngoda

• Joe Njagu for The Letter

• Tafadzwa Ranganai ror Nevanji

• Tafadzwa Ranganai for Cavern

28. Best Achievement in Cinematography Award

• Leo Jakata Ericks for Sin

• Rodney Mabaleka for Veza the Unfolding

• Joe Njagu for Ngoda

29. Best Achievement in Production Design Award

• Veza The Unfolding

• The Letter

• Ngoda

• Cavern

30. Best Achievement in Costume Design Award

• Thato Gwangwa for Black Ultraviolet

• Dereck Nzwiyakwi for Rutendo

• Melisa Ncube for Ikasi the Hood

• Carron Tambala for The Letter

31. Best Achievement in Sound Design Award

• Joshua Cannings for Ngoda

• Londeka Mngomezulu for Third Law

• Audly Creative Sound for Maoko Akandirera

• Ronaldo Chikwava for At the End of The Rainbow

32. Best Achievement in Editing Award in a Film

• Lewis Aaron for Rutendo

• Forward Musaamba for Cocoon

• Lindiwe Gwara & Billy Walsh for the letter

33. Outstanding Indigenous Language Award in a Film

• Ikasi The Hood

• We Are Children of The Stars

• Nyamatsatse Series 3

• Tangled

34. Best Achievement in Makeup & Hairstyling Award in a Film

• Rosebud Tsikura For Ngoda

• Makeup Artist for Opus

• Makeup Artist for Sin

35. Outstanding Experimental Short Film Award

• Murindagomo - The Tale of The Magic Pot

• Daughter Of the Soil

• Third Law

• Inverted