AWARD-WINNING filmmaker Jonathan Samukange, professionally known as Director O, has described the 22nd Zimbabwe National Arts Merit Awards (Namas) — which were recently held under the theme #KWAN22 in appreciation of their return to the City of Kings and Queens, Bulawayo — as highly memorable and a landmark in creating good statesmanship.
Samukange had a double nomination in the Outstanding Music Video category for Harare to Mutare by Shingai featuring Bryan K, directed by Jonathan Samukange and Damage by Tahle We Dzinza, directed by Jonathan Samukange which had an equally good contender Famba by Anita Jaxson, directed by Taurai Zidya.
He said positive criticism led to betterment of creative work and to this end the video Damage has already won hearts at many film festivals.
Samukange told NewsDay Life & Style that he received his accolade with great humility and it was testimony of hard work and consistency at perfecting his filming techniques.
Samukange has been nominated in the best music and film videos categories twice and eventually clinched the gong at Kwan22.
“It is an honour to be awarded such a prestigious accolade. It’s pleasing to note that the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) has shown great appreciation for the filmmakers and to a greater extent have been very keen on making the industry viable.
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“I would like to acknowledge the collective effort from my students and colleagues at the Dreamhouse Pictures for taking part in my filming acts. I am teaching and also learning. Hopefully they have taken the results as a lesson of hardworking and thinking.”
Samukange referred to the negative comments trending on social media as challenges that will trigger him to even work much harder.
“It feels terrible and it shall not stop me in any way because I have already attracted the attention of several film festivals for exhibition and screening of the very best from my catalogue including Harare to Mutare by Shingai featuring Bryan K and Damage by Tahle We Dzinza, which I directed.
“I have applied and got nominated twice for two consecutive years. This is my third year and I got two nominations respectively. I eventually became the winner. I never took lost opportunities as discouraging but as anvils for visualising what people may like. So many questions came to my mind after winning and one of them was what my future will be like after all this?
“Crazy rumours are all over the place. I have a weakness and it is like, I am just loud on the film set and annoyingly quiet. I am just that person who wishes to come into the limelight for good reasons.
“Artists should learn the art of thanksgiving and appreciation and come up with positive and encouraging comments that will inspire much bigger awards ceremonies. The Namas are only 22 years old in comparison with the grandiose Oscars, Grammy which have been perfected over the years.
“Let’s unite and see Namas as a celebration of the artistic work we have in Zimbabwe as opposed to competition. A true industry can be built. The Namas are doing great and as a suggestion, I would like to recommend more categories and more awards so that more people get involved. We had lesser categories in the past and we were back to Bulawayo after 10 years of improvement. Thanks to NACZ, keep pushing forward and help the arts industry to grow and match globally claimed standards.”
Samukange believes the best way to communicate is to tell stories through the lens and he is always ready to communicate on any subject designed to entertain in an interesting way that sends a good message about Zimbabwe.
He is a Hollywood-trained filmmaker based in Harare and attended a three-year hands-on intensive training in Bachelor of Fine Arts in Filmmaking at the New York Film Academy and graduated in 2019. On his return to Zimbabwe, Director O started an academy where he has been successful as a teacher and mentor for film talent.
His first feature film A World Away grabbed the prestigious Best Feature Film award at the Chicago Independent Film Festival 2019.
“As a multi-award-winning filmmaker I would like to keep on working hard and create as many chances as possible for the gifted and young talent in Zimbabwe and Africa at large,“ he said.