Wed, 29 Mar 2017 12:43:53 +0000
By Terence Miselo
The prestigious MultiChoice Zambia Film and Television Awards (ZAFTA’s) take place this Saturday at the Taj Pamodzi in Lusaka with top film makers aiming for glory in various categories. As the preparations advance, the debate on who scoops the awards has heated up.
Looking at the nominees in the various categories, one gets a feeling the 3rd edition of the ZAFTA’s has grown and the judges will surely get a tough time to choose the best. However, it is true to say the high-level panel of adjudicators brings confidence in believing the eventual award winners for the night will be the people’s choice. This is because the five-member judges committee has worked under the guidelines of a technical committee comprising of NAMA president, NAMA acting Secretary General, Zambia Arts Adjudicators Panel (ZAAP) president, immediate past ZAAP president, NAC assistant performing arts director and four film and television content production experts namely Henry Joe Sakala, Lawrence Thompson, Jeff Sitali and Alec Mugala. This is enough to give the awards that authenticity that misses in most award ceremonies in Zambia.
The role of the technical committee was mainly to develop adjudication guidelines which have already been given to the team of adjudicators.
“I can assure you that there is credibility in the team and only the best will emerge victorious,” boasted NAMA president Patrick Salubusa to assure the contenders.
But who among the many contenders is likely to walk out with an award on Saturday?
Looking at the adjudicated awards which are the best TV show, best TV presenter, best TV drama/comedy series, best TV/film actor, best TV/film actress, best TV/film director and the best feature film award, the biggest competition will fall on best actress and actor respectively.
It will also be a big a vital win for whoever gets the best feature film award. So who really are the contenders?
Owas Crystal Films, winner of the best feature film last year is back in the same category this year with a film called SBI. This is a film he did with his family of acting brothers and sisters. On this one, Owas’ production house is competing with Mufaya by Every Moment Connections and Kwacha co-produced by Kabwita Entertainment and Maynard Films. This category seems the toughest as all the three films reveal growth and anger in making films by the production houses involved.
Interesting to note also is that Owas is again, in his own capacity as an actor competing with his young brother Robam Mwape, populary known as Mwine Mushi, and a new addition to screen acting Bizwell Mudenda for the Danny Sauzande Kanengoki award for the best actor. It will be interesting to see who scoops this one.
Female actress Cassie Kabwita another winner from last year is also back this year in the Agnes Esnart Kabanana Mulimbika Award for the Best Actress. She is up with another good actress Mutale Macholowe of Fever as well as Esnart Chushi from Misozi.
