Screenwriter, producer and director Zion Sulaiman Matovu Mukasa is gearing up to release a horror movie ‘Zamani’, a motivation for other Rwandan filmmakers to shoot beyond the horizon.
‘Zamani’, a Swahili word which translates to past, is expected to be screened at Century Cinema this month. The much anticipated horror film was shot by Rwandans, scripted in English and is getting ready to be sold internationally.
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In the film, we are immersed in the narrative crafted by the film’s main character, 'Bella,' a woman in her mid-thirties who, for years, enjoyed financial stability through dedicated work. However, a significant turning point occurred two years ago when she unexpectedly lost her job.
Consequently, Bella grapples with emerging mental health challenges. Complicating matters further, she finds herself pursued by a former colleague, 'Swanky,' whom she had mistreated during her employed days, adding an additional layer of tension to her already tumultuous circumstances.
Mukasa growing up, aspired to become a lawyer, a dream shared by his parents. During primary school days, he discovered a passion for writing and directing theaters. However, it wasn't until later that he realised the profound joy writing brought him.
"I began expressing my thoughts and observations through writing, joining writing programs in Kampala during high school. As my skills developed, I transitioned from writing books to crafting stories that eventually evolved into movie scripts.
"At the age of 16, after acting in a film in Kenya, I decided to transform my written narratives into visual experiences, marking the inception of my journey into the film industry. Since then, I have consistently produced two to three of my own movies each year, ensuring a continuous pursuit of my filmmaking aspirations,” he recalled.
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The director stressed that producing the film was not easy as most of the actors are not only scared to speak English but also don't believe that they know English and can perform well in an only English scripted film.
He however explained that being able to successfully produce the film; he sees a way for more horror movies to come in the industry. "Rwandans are used to the same types of movies for a long time such as drama, comedy and romance and this being a horror film, I believe it’s a question every film maker will have and at the end of the day plan to exercise more beyond the normal movies we see every day because they can do more,” said Mukasa.