Rethinking the Algiers Charter in contemporary film production in Zimbabwe: Conversations with film producers

Abstract

This study sets motion for systematic academic investigations on the Algiers Charter of 1975 and

film production in Zimbabwe and Africa at large. The charter stipulates that filmmakers should

be committed to the development of an ‘African’ cinema, radically different from previous

cinematic representations of Africa by the Western world, rejecting commercial influence.

Despite the centrality of the charter in film production, systematic academic studies on the

phenomenon in the Zimbabwean context are scarce. Theoretically informed by Third Cinema

theory and utilizing a qualitative research approach, the study investigates the feasibility and

relevance of the Algiers charter in the context of film production in Zimbabwe. In-depth semi

structured interviews were conducted with five purposively selected film producers drawn from

some of Zimbabwe’s major cities: Harare, Masvingo and Gweru. From the data obtained, the

study comes to the conclusion that the Algiers charter is hardly known by Zimbabwean film

makers despite its importance. Moreover, while some film makers might be profit oriented, an

ever bleeding Zimbabwean economy makes it impossible for the film makers to make financial

profits. Finally, the study contends that Zimbabwe’s film industry, has failed to radically divorce

itself from the western gaze of the African scenario.