Private Project

Mind Games

To some crime is an obstacle, to others it’s a business, but there is a man to whom crime is just game.

For the past four years on the 3rd of July, a seemingly random person is murdered. The murderer, only known as the candle light killer likes to sit and watch as his victims grappling for their last breath. This year, everything will change.

Mind games is a modern set psychological thriller that unravels the complexities of human thought and emotion. The film takes your mind on an exciting journey filled with action, suspense and yes, the unexpected twists.

  • Charles Mawungwa
    Director
  • Charles Mawungwa
    Writer
  • Thandiwe Nyamasvisva
    Script Supervisor
  • Thandiwe Nyamasvisva
    Producer
  • Charles Mawungwa
    Producer
  • Dax L. Jackson
    Key Cast
    "Sam"
  • Kevin Hanssen
    Key Cast
    "Ex"
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 43 minutes 10 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 15, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    25,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Zimbabwe
  • Country of Filming:
    Zimbabwe
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Calcutta International Cult Film Festival
    Calcutta
    India
    November 18, 2017
    World Premiere
    Best Narrative Feature
  • Zimbabwe International Film Festival
    Harare
    Zimbabwe
    July 27, 2017
    Best Zimbabwean Film, Best Actor
  • Five Continents International Film Festival
    Anzoategui
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    March 20, 2018
    Best Editing
Director Biography - Charles Mawungwa

Charles Mawungwa has been in the film Industry for over eleven years as an editor, screenwriter and director. His entered the industry as a writer and assistant director for a short film called The Search and it won the DSTV best short film production at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) in 2006 and was featured in over 40 countries. He wrote directed and produced another short film called Mind Games which won Outstanding Production at the National Arts Merits Award (NAMA) in 2011. The film also won Most Promising Director at ZIFF in 2010. He has just completed Mind Games as a feature length film. Charles has directed music videos for local and international artists and currently holds a 2016 NAMA for one of his videos. As an editor, he has edited two feature films which include The Gentleman which won an award at the American International Film Festival. He also edited a television series called Fading Pictures which won four awards at NAMA 2009. His strengths lie in the ability to work with minimum resources to produce innovative and unique productions. For example, The Search was the first Zimbabwean film to contain a mixture of live action and 3D animated reality. The short film Mind Games featured visual effects such as advanced explosions and realistic CGI. Charles has also been involved in the production of over fifteen documentaries and awareness videos for various UN organisations.

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Director Statement

Mind Games the movie is an adaptation of the 2011 short film of the same title, which scooped the Outstanding production Award at Nama 2011 and Netone’s Most promising Director award at ZIFF 2010.
Six years down the line, I have certainly grown a lot more as a director; have access to better cameras, cast and everything else.

The script itself was designed to produce a highly entertaining, good-looking film with a minimum cast and location and effectively on a very low budget. My wife, Thandi who has over 10 years experience writing for theatre, and several writing awards under her belt, helped in the adaptaion of this screenplay, and came in as both producer and production manager.
The key cast for Mind Games, Kevin Hansen and Dax Jackson both have great experience on and behind the screen, making the outcome of this film a very collaborative effort.
It was a ten day shoot between the 5th and 21st of November in 2016. We used mostly natural light and skills acquired from years of making UN documentaries, to achieve a great looking film, with a minimum crew.