WHERE THEY ARE NOW AND WHAT THEY SAY
ICAPA Trust’s and it’s sister organisations Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe and Nyerai Films have given many Zimbabwean creatives a launching pad for some wonderful careers.
Some ICAPA Trust alumni reflect on their time with ICAPA Trust.
Yvonne Yila
Yvonne Yila was the International Images Film Festival for Women (IIFF) festival director from 2011 to 2015, during which time she obtained her Bacherlors degree at the Women University in Harare, sand her potential was recognised with a Washington fellowship.
On leaving ICAP Trust, she went on to become a Research Attaché for theUrgent Action Fund - Africa, a face-to-face fundraiser for UNHCR in Sweden and is now completing her PHD at Lund University in Sweden.
On her experience at ICAPA she writes:
When I joined the International Images Film Festival for Women (IIFF) in 2008, I had no idea how deeply it would shape my journey. I came in with enthusiasm but no experience in festival coordination or management. Through the mentorship of the founder and the then Festival Director, I grew in confidence and skill, learning what it takes to curate and bring women’s stories to audiences through film screenings.
Yvonne Yila
As an international festival showcasing films from around the world, IIFF exposed me to diverse narratives that reflected women’s lived realities across different contexts. My experience with IIFF broadened my understanding of representation, intersectionality, resilience, and agency, and allowed me to engage deeply with stories that challenge gender norms and amplify women’s voices. The experience also offered practical insights that helped me bridge theory and practice in my academic work. It shaped my epistemology and strengthened my commitment to postcolonial and decolonial ways of knowing, grounded in women’s everyday experiences. Today, as I pursue my doctorate on women’s agency and care in activism, I continue to draw inspiration from IIFF, a space that instilled in me a lifelong dedication to amplifying women’s voices.
Rudo Chakanyuka came to ICAPA in 2016, where she was the IIFF trainee festival director 2017 - 2018. Following her time at ICAPA Trust, Rudo went on to work as Communications Associate at Gateway Zimbabwe and later as ProgrammesManager
at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF). She is now Co-founder and Creative Director of Pada Platform, an organisation which imparts media, ICT and feminist training to young women. She is also part of the Video Co-Lab which offers a diverse range of training services that empower individuals and communities to tell their stories with impact and authenticity, and the Make It Growproject. The latter advisory offers training services on participatory video proposals for planning, sharing and fundraising purposes. In addition to the above, Rudo also works as a freelance consultant in project management, documentation and audio - visual content management.
Rudo Chakanyuka
About her time at ICAPATrust, Rudo writes: I gained a lot of experience in organisational and festival management and good governance. I also learned to work effectively under pressure and to adapt and innovate when faced with challenges. Most importantly, I met some amazing colleagues who have become key in my professional network and have played a significant role in my personal and career growth, through collaboration and solidarity within different spaces.
Mehluli Hikwa is a freelance Creative Developer, specialising in UI/UX Design, Frontend Development, and WebVR production. He has now over 10 years of experience in web development, and successfully contributed to various projects across different creative industries.
Mehluli Hikwa
Mehluli was introduced to ICAPA through an internship in 2010. On completing his internship, he worked full time for ICAPA as a technical studio assistant, graphic and web designer until 2013.
Mehluli has this to say about his time at ICAPA Trust:
ICAPA's programs played a pivotal role in shaping my professional journey. Through the mentorship and internship opportunities, I gained hands-on experience and insights into film festival management, interactive web documentary production and the entirety of video production process. The training not only enhanced my abilities but also boosted my confidence in navigating complex video and web projects. Moreover, it enabled me to contribute meaningfully to the creative economy, especially in a world that has become increasingly digital. The invaluable connections I made during the program continue to support my career advancement today and beyond.
ICAPA Trust and its programmes are a unique platform for growing young creative women's, and also men's, agency. Other ICAPA Trust alumni have made their mark inside Zimbabwe and internationally, working as freelance curators, festival directors and leading graduate studies departments.
