IIFF 2023 in Bulawayo
In 2023 the International Images Film Festival for Women (IIFF) resumed its minifests in Bulawayo, courtesy of the USA Embassy in Harare’s programme ‘Economic Advancement for Zimbabwe Creatives’.
Inclusion is a central value at IIFF and the Bulawayo minifest is part of a larger national outreach program. The minifest in Zimbabwe’s second largest city, nicknamed the City of Kings, had been previously disrupted by lack of funding, exacerbated by the COVID19 pandemic. This return is significant in that it contributes to satisfying Zimbabwean audience’s appetite for films with a different story and a different gaze from those presented on available entertainment channels discernible in Zimbabwe and across the African continent, notwithstanding the downsizing of some African operations by streamer Amazon Prime.
The IIFF minifest in Bulawayo took place from 8 December through 10 December, directly following the main festival in Harare. The minifest opened with a series of screenings at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe Bulawayo’s John Knight Cinema on the 8th of December. The US documentary ‘A Most Beautiful Thing’ (dir. Mary Mazzio, United States of America, 2020), which tells the story of how rowing and the water provided young men from the West Side of Chicago with a safe haven from violence and poverty, was followed by ‘The Last Ranger’ (dir. Cindy Lee, South Africa, 2023) a short film about the effects of rhino poaching through the eyes of a young girl as well as ‘Born Different’ (dir. Ann Sarafina, Nigeria, 2020), a Nigerian documentary about a young woman living with Neurofibromatosis.
Lively discussions amongst the demographically diverse audience after each session engaged with topics such as the craft of storytelling and the themes from the films - which were poverty, discrimination, trauma and courage. The need for Zimbabweans to tell stories that are authentic and relatable to the ordinary person was a recurring theme in the discussions.
Later in the day, the festival team headed to Mzilikazi Youth Centre , where the film ‘Mud Clan’ (dir. Daniel Ehimen, Nigeria, 2023), proved quite popular with the young audience as it touched on family dynamics, the vulnerability of children, trafficking, corruption and the bravery of the young protagonist. Thereafter final screenings were held at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe Bulawayo, at the St. Andrews Anglican Church in Mpopoma and the NUST American Space.
Bulawayo closed the curtain on the IIFF 2023 Main Festival activities and we look forward to presenting an even more exciting and impactful edition in 2024. While preparations for IIFF 2024 have already begun, IIFF2023 embarks on its national outreach to bring uplifting relevant narrative to underserved communities.
