The Sunday News
Peter Matika, Senior Life Reporter
REBEL Film Productions and Early Entertainment’s hit new movie The Lost Letter made history by becoming the only film to be nominated in every single category under film at the inaugural Bulawayo Arts Award nominees reveal party, which was held at Glen Lodge.
Not only was the highly demanded new movie nominated for Outstanding Film, but it also scored nominations for Outstanding Film Actress for its lead Donna N and Outstanding Film Actor for its male star Exult Ncube, giving it a clean sweep in the film nominations. The nominations came at yet another high moment for the movie’s string of successful events as that same night marked a sold out final day of repeat screenings which had been running at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo since Wednesday 31 May.
“Our three nominations came as a very welcome surprise because we were all busy celebrating the final day of our gallery screenings which was a sold out success and when we heard the good news, the first people we shared it with were our final audience of viewers who joined in the celebrations,” said Mhle Nzima the writer and director of The Lost Letter.
The producers who were admittedly overwhelmed by the public’s response and demand for the movie said the award nominations showed that it was being appreciated by the arts fraternity as well. With 25 percent of the overall mark for the award being determined by public votes on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter among others, The Lost Letter producers felt this was an ingenious move by the Bulawayo Arts Awards because it would award artistes and their art not only based on the merits as defined by a few panelists but also by how much of an impact they actually have on the general public.
“When we make films, we make them for the public because they are the ones who buy and support them, so involving them in determining an award sounds like an amazing initiative. The comments we have been getting about the film so far are all so inspiring and heartfelt it’s overwhelming. We’re very grateful for that, and now with the award nominations it feels like recognition from the arts fraternity as well on a professional level, so it’s all just an amazing ride for us,” said Elliot Moyo, the co-producer of the movie.
“The fact that the general public is loving and relating to the film this much is really what means the most in all this. Watching people talk about these characters you wrote like they are real people and actually crying for them and laughing with them is one of the greatest feelings you could get as a writer or director and to have that effort recognised on a scale as grand as an awards ceremony just adds even more value to it all,” said Nzima.
The Lost Letter follows the story of Sara, a happily married young woman who moves back to her childhood home with her husband Sam and daughter Linda after disappearing for seven years. There she finds an old letter she never got from her long lost first love Michael vowing to wait for her return to him forever. Sara is then plagued with guilt for moving on with her life while Michael stayed loyal and waited for her. The movie has an all-star cast including Donna N, Exult Ncube, Annie Maliki, Terrence Faizil and Lady Tshawe who all put on stellar performances to complement the gripping story.
The movie has done what no Bulawayo film before it has by having a highly publicised and glamourous premiere event last month followed almost immediately by an equally heavily marketed and subscribed cinema run, much like movies do in Hollywood. It has taken the demand of local film to another level by its continued interviews of the stars in promotion and having them present for every screening, promoting their status as celebrity icons which are what the industry has been missing.
“Our films need to be out there for the public in style and in glamour for them to be respected, which is why we spared no expense in treating each screening we held after the premiere just with just as much dignity and flare,” said Nzima.
Characterised by beautifully crafted behind the scenes promotional videos and posters, the post premiere screening events were indeed high end affairs. The classy John Knight Cinema at the Art Gallery was set up with a beautiful snack bar with popcorn, juice, coffee and croissants for the audience’s convenience during the evening and afternoon screenings.
“We created an environment which would make our audience feel special with high end brands of coffee you wouldn’t just get at home coupled with amazing croissants from our friends at Alliance Francaise de Bulawayo who we are very grateful to. I believe engaging the corporate sector, Government, NGOs and Arts organisations for partnerships is one of the ways to make our industry greater and maintain such quality in both our productions and events,” said Moyo.
The Lost Letter producers are in the process of organising a Harare premiere for the movie in their continued efforts to keep the movie alive and get it to as many people as possible with local and regional Television broadcast deals also in the works with DVD and Video On Demand (VOD) being the final stage.
