After a year that seen short films screenings across continents, and the country making it’s debut Tribeca Film Festival, Zimbabwe’s film sector has another reason to celebrate.
Filmmaker, writer, and director, Jabulani Mudzvova, has scooped the Best Director Award at the prestigious Cine Paris Film Festival for his latest short film, ‘Residue’. This landmark win positions Mudzvova as one of the country’s most promising creative exports and underscores the growing global interest in Zimbabwean cinema.
Residue, a hauntingly introspective short film that unpacks memory, grief, and psychological fragility, has already screened at multiple international festivals including the Brazil New Visions Film Festival, Stockholm City Film Festival, and the Zimbabwe International Film Festival.
The film also earned Best Actress for Charmaine R. Mujeri at Brazil’s New Visions Festival, and now, Mudzvova’s first Best Director win at Cine Paris.
“To see the fruits of our labour being recognised in places like Brazil, Sweden, France, and here at home is just amazing,” says Mudzvova. “You get into this industry with big dreams, and while the road is long, these wins are proof that Zimbabwean cinema belongs on the global stage.”
Mudzvova brings a unique blend of intellectual depth and cultural sensitivity to his storytelling. With a background in law from Staffordshire University (via MBS in Greece), he merges analytical rigor with artistic expression, telling stories that are emotionally layered, socially aware, and unflinchingly honest.
As the Lead Director of The Authors, an emerging Zimbabwean art collective, Mudzvova has become a pivotal force in ushering a new generation of storytellers into the spotlight. His earlier work ‘A Few Dollars More’ was NAMA-nominated and screened at the African Indigenous Language Film Festival, while his filmography also includes ‘Crazy 8’ and ‘Hera Hera’.
While celebrating Residue’s success, Mudzvova remains focused on building the future of Zimbabwean cinema. He is currently in post-production on a new short film and developing several feature-length projects with aspirations to enter international film labs and script development programs.
“My goal is to sharpen my craft,” he says. “We’re doing well with the little we have. Imagine what we could do with more structured support, more funding, and a clearer film ecosystem.”
Mudzvova also called for structural reforms within Zimbabwe’s creative industry, urging for greater professionalisation of production roles and more investment in film development infrastructure, from sales agents and script supervisors to distributors and cinemas.
“There’s a hunger for Zimbabwean stories. We just need to build the scaffolding to get them to the world. We’ve proven we can do it. Now it’s time to scale up.”
With a slate of exciting projects in the pipeline and the international spotlight steadily turning toward Southern Africa, Jabulani Mudzvova is making sure Zimbabwe is well represented.
