Zimbabwean movie Cook-off makes its Netflix debut on Monday, a debut that its makers hope will move the country’s small film industry to wide audiences. It is a rom-com movie about a struggling single mother who finds love during a cooking competition.
Tendaiishe Chitima and Tendai Ryan are starring in the film, which had a production budget of only $8,000. Zimbabwe often snatched headlines for its economic sorrow and political crises, but producer Joe Njagu said the film sought to project a different image.
Njagu expressed himself about his country, “I want the world to know more about our country than what they hear. We also enjoy nice food. We also fall in love; We also have very nice stories.” With such a small budget of the film, Njagu expressed his good relationships with cast and crews, helped to sign delayed contracts and to bring on board studio owners and equipment hire companies without making an at moment payment.
He did not comment on how much the Netflix deal was worth but that it was enough to pay the deferred expense and make some profit.
Data source: Zimbabwe Film Industry