Story by Colette Musanyera
ZIMBABWEAN production ‘Mirage’ was named the Best First Feature Film at the seventh edition of the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) in Canada.
‘Mirage’ written by Virginia Jekanyika, produced by revered filmmaker Joe Njagu and directed by former Miss Zimbabwe Malaika Mushandu, was battling it out with other 10 productions from countries like Nigeria, USA, UK, Mexico and Canada in the Best First Feature category where it emerged victorious.
“I am so excited about the development and I would like to thank God for this award. I would also like to thank everyone whom I collaborated with on the production because ‘Mirage’ is a collaborative effort between MMX, Joe Njagu Films and Malaika Productions,” said Mushandu.
‘Mirage’ which is about women incarcerated at a maximum prison, was also nominated in two other categories: Best Picture Film and Best Female Filmmaker at TINFF.
The film which stars veteran actors including Prudence Katomeni Mbofana, Chipo Bizure, Charmaine Mujeri, Stewart Sakarombe and Eunice Tava, was also nominated in three categories at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in Nigeria three years ago, before scooping an award at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) in 2022.
