Zimbabwean award winning short film RISE, not only had its East African premiere this past week but was also awarded Best Short Film at the Mashariki African Film Festival in Rwanda’s capital Kigali.
The Mashariki African Film Festival is the largest film festival in Rwanda, created to celebrate the continent’s rapidly growing film industry. RISE was among 50+ films from 20+ countries selected for the festival.
This award comes just after the film officially qualified for consideration for the 2026 Oscar Awards. The film was submitted under the category of Best Live Action Short Film.
Written and directed by Jessie Rowlands, RISE is inspired by the true story of Tobias Mupfuti, a boxing coach who’s life mission is the upliftment of disadvantaged kids through his orphanage and academy in Victoria Falls. The film stars renowned actor Tongayi Chirisa and breakout star Sikhanyiso Ngwenya, who became the youngest actor to win the Outstanding Actor at the 2025 NAMA Awards.
Over the past year it has been breaking records for Zimbabwean cinema, with 17 awards and over 50 film festival selections. It became the first Zimbabwean film ever to be screened at the Tribeca Film Festival.
