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Shaina

Shine (Wilmah Munemera) is a teenager in Zimbabwe who has a knack for making something out of nothing and could have a promising future as an engineer, except for the fact that she doesn’t believe in herself. When she and her best friends Faro (Tadiwanashe Tsitsi Marowa), Stella (Gamu Mukwakwami) and Busi (Tarumbidzwa Chirume) are faced with a host of grown-up problems – loss of loved ones, overdue exam fees and the curse of “blessers” – they come close to giving up. Will Shine and her friends be able to overcome their circumstances or will they admit defeat in the face of adversity? Their story is one of forgiveness and of friendship, of creating a new family from the people who love you, and of the very real power to be found in girls supporting girls. It’s a story about resilience.

Produced by the same creative team that brought Inside Story and The Lucky Specials to television screens across Africa, Shaina brings together the best of Zimbabwe’s talent in the likes of Jesesi Mungoshi, Leroy Gopal, Edmore Sandifolo, Marian Kunonga and Charmaine Mujeri alongside a host of refreshing young talent the world is yet to see.

  • Beautie Masvaure Alt
    Director
  • Wanisai Chigwendere
    Writer
  • Harriet Gavshon
    Producer
    Inside Story, The Lucky Specials, Rhythm City (TV series) , Shuga (TV series), The Girl from St. Agnes (Tv Series), Swartwater (TV series), Single Guys (Tv Series),
  • Siphiwe Hlabangane
    Producer
    Lithapo (TV Series), Single Guys (TV Series), Shuga (TV series), iNumber Number (Tv series)
  • Aric Noboa
    Producer
    Inside Story, The Lucky Specials
  • Regan Alsup
    Producer
    The Lucky Specials
  • Molly Hermann
    Producer
    Written Off, Lincoln's Last Day, Winged Seduction: Birds of Paradise, Jefferson's Secret Bible, Puppy Bowl III
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 36 minutes 40 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 30, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    1,180,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Zimbabwe
  • Country of Filming:
    South Africa
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri Amira
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Beautie Masvaure Alt

This is Beautie Masvaure Alt's first feature film. She's spent 16 years in the film and television industry in Southern Africa, starting as a continuity/script supervisor on features and TV dramas and working her way up to directing multi episode series. She's directed two documentaries for UNICEF Zimbabwe and edited a book project of oral narratives of Zimbabwean lives called "Don't Listen to What I'm About to Say."

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Director Statement

I was thrilled at the prospect when the executive producer approached me about the possibility of directing a Zimbabwean feature film, Shaina that reflects Zimbabwean lives & experiences.
The story and themes of Shaina resonate with my own life as well as some of my relatives & close friends. I was fortunate enough to have been brought up in the surburbs as well as the townships, this gave me a well-rounded experience. As a young woman, like the lead Shaina, I was also caught in precarious situations. There was a time in my life I had nothing, I had no money and had to find ways to survive and fend for myself. The topics of death, sexual assault, survival, and the importance of education all mirror my experiences. Growing up in Zimbabwe, education was and still is highly regarded.
I was sexually assaulted by a relative as young girl. I know a lot of young girls and women experienced that too in Zimbabwe and Africa but nobody opens up about it, as there is a feeling of shame/guilt attached to it. I talked about it for the 1 st time when I was in my early twenties. In addition, I ‘ve experienced death in my family and witness some of my close cousins resort to prostitution due to poverty.
It was a super exciting, challenging and rewarding experience to tackle my first feature, telling a story deeply rooted in my culture. I chose to tell the story from a youth perspective, to show the strength and ingenuity needed for these girls to struggle for their dreams against overwhelming odds. Our young and gifted protagonist looses every support mechanism in her life and is forced to find a “hustle” or else abandon her schooling. Everyone is trying to find a hustle. This shows us how our girls choose hope when there is no light.
Overall, I wanted the story-telling and visual style to give young Zimbabweans, as well as other African youth, the feeling that it’s their story that’s being told. It allowed me to frame the story and deliver the health messaging in an organic, creative way that is relatable to a young audience. I hope my vision for this film will leave a lasting impression.