Zimbabwean filmmaker and former Miss World Zimbabwe Malaika Mushandu took home the Best Zimbabwean Film award for ‘Mirage‘ during the closing ceremony of the International Images Film Festival for Women at the US Embassy residence in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The film has gathered lots of praise for its portrayal of women. The film is set in the backdrop of the ouster of the late former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. The lead character Tambu plans a prison break only to end up questioning her newly found freedom.
Upon receiving the award, Malaika expressed her gratitude and stated the importance of the festival and telling our own stories.
Bangladeshi film director Elizabeth D. Acosta won the second and final award of the night, The Best Depiction of a Woman for her film Bangla Surf Girls.
It was an evening to celebrate the return of the festival that’s made a comeback after a two-year break and the excitement was palpable.
We started the night with some good food and drinks, and finally met a few people whom I’ve been talking to online.
Sadly, the guest of honor Asian-American film director Miss Kit Zauhar couldn’t make it to Harare because of flight difficulties but sent a warm and passionate address from one of the rooms she filmed Actual People.
This might be a guess but a good one. Despite the majority of the audience having gone through the university in yesteryears, they enjoyed the film. Laughter and murmurs filled the air which ended in a standing ovation after the credits rolled out.
It’s been four days of intense and enjoyable action, going up and down across the city and out of town to the much-loved Domboshava.
“I only spent a day here but there is something about this place that struck accord with many. The films showcased here resonated so well with the experience of women living in this area and credit to them for opening up and sharing their experiences.
If there is something to take away from this experience, it’s that the International Images Film Festival for Women is a worthwhile project and this comeback edition laid a good foundation for its prospects in the coming days and years.
