Cinema Society calls for submission for ZAFTA 2023

Audrey Galawu

The Cinema Society of Zimbabwe on Friday launched the Zimbabwe Annual Film and Television Awards calling for submissions of films, television shows, and other content created from January 2018 to August 2023.

The ZAFTAs 2023 Awards will be held on December 2 under the theme of “Leveraging Business Synergies for Global Impact”.

ZAFTA chairperson, Jessie Allen said the awards will recognise outstanding achievements in various categories such as Outstanding Feature Film, screenplay, actors, television show among others.

“We want to create celebrities who can enhance the reputation of Zimbabwe as a culturally rich and diverse society and influence perceptions of the international community and of course Zimbabweans at home and abroad about the country.

“This will increase opportunities for the local, regional, and international markets to engage with Zimbabwean cultural content.

“Our ZAFTA award recipients will inspire social cohesion, peace and will be instrumental in the marketing of Zimbabwe’s image. Our ultimate aim at the ZAFTAs is to celebrate and promote high calibre creatives such as categories that will be included in the ceremony.

“Winning a ZAFTA award will have the impact of opening doors for the recipients. We aim to give them access to talent agents, distribution, exhibitions, and to personal development opportunities.

“We will engage recipients of the ZAFTA in activities such as international touring, collaborations, and exhibition showcase opportunities.

“This will undoubtedly boost their visibility on the local, regional, and international film and television scene.

“The Cinema Society of Zimbabwe is dedicated to enhancing capabilities within the film and television sector for sustainable careers," she said.

Award-winning filmmaker and actor and ZAFTA board member, Melgin Tafirenyika said the awards will give spotlight to the talent behind the scenes who often go unrecognised.

“This is a wonderful initiative which will celebrate those who work the magic behind the scenes and give a chance to those who have been ignored for a long time.

“It’s a platform for us to collaborate with each other and not compete and we will live to see the vision,” he said.

The ZAFTA board also launched a competition for designers for the ZAFTA trophy.

Allen said the trophy should embody the celebrated figure, it should be a sign of pride and affirmation and most of all embody the spirit of Ubuntu and also celebrate Zimbabwe.

The submissions are free and can be done online or physically.

The board assured the public the awards will be transparent and will cater for everyone including upcoming talent and not only those who are already established.

More information on submission guidelines and categories can be found on the ZAFTA website and social media platforms.

For media inquiries, please contact: Mr. Richard Tentone ZAFTA Publicist Mobile: +263719127936

Email: info@zafta.org Website: https://www.zafta.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/theZaftas

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