Harare, Zimbabwe (May 19, 2022) – the Cinema Society of Zimbabwe is pleased to announce the appointment of the new board comprising of Rodney Mabaleka, Jessie Allen, Romeal Chituza, Bright Gotora and Dumisani Manyathela.
Rodney Mabaleka is the president and chair deputised by Jessie Allen.
“Our Board of Directors comprise of a dedicated team committed to charting a new trajectory for the Zimbabwean film industry. The board has progressive young people committed to setting a new course and narrative towards building an enabling environment for the business of film to thrive,” said Richard Tentone, the Secretary-General of Cinema Society of Zimbabwe. “We are excited to have Rodney and Jessie at the helm of the most progressive organisation of our time and believe their combined expertise will lead the charges in growing the CSZ brand at home and abroad bringing much needed opportunities for industry players.”
Rodney Mabaleka is a Film, Television and Entertainment Production graduate from AFDA University and an award winning filmmaker with directing, producing, editing and cinematography credits working on films such as Veza the Unfolding, Soulmate and The Signal. His passion and motive is to improve the standard of African filmmaking and storytelling. Rodney believes that creatives in the African entertainment industry have barely scratched the surface of the quality and quantity they can produce as a people.
Jessie Allen developed a deep love for films and the art of acting in Harare in 1987 while watching Cry Freedom starring Denzel Washington. She has studied for roles both behind the camera and onscreen. In 2020 she set up JAC Film School as a vessel for teaching visual storytelling. She is a writer, director, producer, and actor. Her passion is contributing to the improvement of the image of Black Africans in the media through positive and authentic image creation. Jessie’s interests lie in researching issues of representation, equality and freedom. Her current doctoral research focuses on the ways representation informs social life and how the image of Black Africans in Africa and African diaspora can be enhanced through positive image-making in film and television.
About the Cinema Society of Zimbabwe
Cinema Society of Zimbabwe is an apolitical, non-religious cultural and creative nonprofit spearheading the development of a sustainable film industry in Zimbabwe. It is registered with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe. Visit our website: www.cinema.co.zw. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @CinemaSocietyZW
