Transactions

Transactions tells a story of Zimbabwean migration through a family divided across three countries. Three siblings – Frank, Miles and Portia - sustain their family through remittances, while longing
for the family they left behind. The fourth sibling, Kiki - who is still in Zimbabwe, is considering emigrating but fears the loneliness of being far from home like her siblings. When Covid-19
hits and makes life increasingly difficult, Frank’s patience and generosity begin to wane. He would rather use the money on nurturing his relationship with his nuclear family and
investing in a reunion to reunite them for the first time in over a decade, but his mother believes their responsibility lies in investing in income generating projects that can take care of their extended family.

  • Rumbi Katedza
    Director
  • Siza Mukwedini
    Producer
  • Don Edkins
    Producer
  • Tiny Mungwe
    Producer
  • Frank Malaba
    Key Cast
  • Chrysthle Malaba-Ncube
    Key Cast
  • Miles Malaba
    Key Cast
  • Portia Ncube
    Key Cast
  • Sheirly Mlilo
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    52 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 1, 2022
  • Country of Origin:
    Zimbabwe
  • Country of Filming:
    South Africa, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe
  • Language:
    English, South Ndebele
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival
    Cape Town & Johannesburg
    South Africa
    June 29, 2022
    World Premiere
    Best African Documentary Runner Up
  • Zimbabwe International Film Festival
    Harare
    Zimbabwe
    September 14, 2022
    Zimbabwe Premiere
    Best Zimbabwean Documentary
  • International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    November 13, 2022
    European Premiere
Distribution Information
  • Steps
    Distributor
    Country: South Africa
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Rumbi Katedza

Rumbi Katedza is a filmmaker and writer, who produces independent fiction and documentary content for a global audience. Her film credits include the award-winning short film Asylum, TV drama Big House, small house and feature film Playing Warriors, all of which have screened across Africa and at film festivals and conferences around the world. Rumbi has directed TV series, music videos, films, as well as segments for the BBC, Al Jazeera and Apple TV.

Her documentary, The Axe and the Tree, about survivors of post-election violence, was launched at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in 2011. Her feature film, Playing Warriors, was nominated for awards at the African Movie Academy Awards, Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles, USA, and Shungu Namutitiwa Film Festival in Zambia, where it won Best Picture and Best Director. She is a 2-time NAMA award winner.

She has been part of the editorial teams of leading Zimbabwean publication Parade magazine, and Ogojiii, a magazine focusing on design and innovation in Africa. Rumbi was formerly the Festival Director of the Zimbabwe International Film Festival and Distribution Manager for Media for Development Trust (producers of Neria, More Time and Yellow Card).

She was the JMD Manyika Fellow at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research in 2019 and an Honorary Fellow at the The Film Study Center at Harvard University 2019-2020.

Her first feature documentary, Transactions, won awards at the Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival and Zimbabwe International Film Festival, and was nominated for the German Grimme Prize and for Best Documentary at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.

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