Controversy on film Flame during production spurred its marketing: ZIFF2022

By Tendai Chisiri

Producer of the 1996 film Flame Simon Bright has revealed that the controversy that surrounded the film during production made it be great in the film industry at Zimbabwe Film Festival (ZIFF) 2022 press conference on Friday in Harare.

The ZIFF 2022 theme is “#reconnecting thus providing a platform for film makers, audiences and stakeholders in the sector to reconnect with their networks and aspirations through film and curated engagements.

Flame, a teaser of the festival was screened at the Theatre in the Park on Friday night with the festival running from 14 to 22 September at the Zimbabwe Film Festival Trust (ZFFT) hub.

ZIFFT made a call for films in July online on Film Freeway.

ZIFFT executive director Solomon Maramba said at the press conference that they ended with 3235 films by the closing date on August 12th.

“Out of those films, the highest number of submission was from Iran at 632 films, second was India with 265 and Brazil was third with 165”, said Maramba. About 60 films will be screened, 10 will be International, 20 African and the rest from Zimbabwe.

At the press conference, Flame co-producer Simon Bright revealed that the controversy that surrounded the film during the production made it became famous in cinemas. He co-produced the film with Joel Phiri. The film was the first regional co-production in Zimbabwe, which was revolutionary at the time.

“It is quite emotional to be back here sharing Flame. Thanks very much for ZIFF for rediscovering us.We have been excavated by ZIFF and brought to life here”, Bright told the press.

“When we were still making the film, Ingrid Sinclair director was editing in Borrowdale. We were working with films about 35 mm”, Bright said.

When Ingrid was working on a Friday night as a dedication to finish the film on time they then received a call from Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).

ZBC called inquiring if they had been visited by police said Bright and after replying that he did not know anything they told him that they are coming to film them being arrested by the police.

Bright later learnt that Chenjerai “Hitler” Hunzvi had made a report that the film was pornography. So Police , ZBC and the film event arrived in Borrowdale.

“Hitler Hunzvi who was the chairman of War Veterans had made the report. He said if the film ever comes out, we will burn every cinema that is showing it”, said Bright.

“That was a fantastic piece of publicity to the film as the saying there is no bad publicity is correct”, he added.

“From there, the film was selected for Cannes Film Festival in the Director’s Fortnight Section”, he said.”When it showed in the Zimbabwe cinemas, thanks to the late Hunzvi, it broke box office records. It beat all the American films off the street because so much controversy had been generated around this idea , which proved to be completely malicious”, said Bright.

Flame director Ingrid Sinclair and production executive , ZIFFT former director Nakai Matema graced the occasion.

Ignite Youth Organisation will be the cheerleaders at the festival.

Tadzi Madzima from Ignite Youth Organisation said, ” In addition to curriculum that is purpose centered, we also focus on leadership’s skills and equipment. We also look at 360 approach to youth development where we offer a variety of programmes that help to shape young people to be leaders in community.

“So we are very excited to be partnering with ZIFT in providing volunteers an at the career day will be exhbiting”, she said.

Malaika Mashandu, director of Mirage the closing film said that not everyone in prison is a villain. Some do simple things and end up with hardcore criminals in prisons she said.

“Mirage is a film must to watch because it give self reflected notch in regards to not giving too much in the film. Regards to what you are doing in the society and if you are contributing to your perpetrators who have been a victim and how you can change”, she said.

Mirage is set in 2027 and it is about 3 women who are imprisoned at Chikurubi prisons and makes plans to escape.

Opening night film Transactions, 3 seconds from the Rusina embassy is recommended for basketball fans, Zim High, African Moot, The Signal and Mirage the closing film are a must to watch.