The Gentleman Test UK's Film Market

The American International Film Festival award-winning movie will test the UK market with  a screening at  Prince Charles Cinema in London on March 24.

Social network Facebook has been abuzz with excitement with Zimbabweans in the UK looking forward to the screening.

Tafadzwa Musariri said: “This is a great opportunity to see a feel of home. I think this is good. More often people have nothing else to say about us but now we have a chance to show England that our narrative is not only about poverty and Zanu PF but we are also shining despite all that.”

The producer of the film, Rufaro Kaseke was quoted in the media as saying: “The idea behind these high profile premieres is to spread our wings wide on the market. Any serious movie has to get through this process before selling DVDs and that is what we have been lacking in Zimbabwe. We made a similar mistake with Lobola and when we went to South Africa to get a distribution deal it flopped because we had already distributed here.”

The film that has already had positive feedback in Zimbabwe and Malawi will head to Zambia after its showing.

Kaseke added that they were looking at engaging “our distributor in South Africa” who will facilitate shows in cinemas in East and southern Africa after which they will then launch a DVD.

The Gentleman was written and directed by Joe Njagu. The cast includes 2010 Big Brother Africa finalist Munyaradzi Chidzonga aka Diamond Boy and Presley Chweneyegae of the Tsotsi fame.

The film also features guest actors such as Zimbabwean’s own business tycoon Phillip Chiyangwa and Miss Malawi Faith Chibale.

The Gentleman is about two brothers living apart and brought together by adversity. They clash in many ways as their loyalty and familial ties and desires are challenged.