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Cook Off

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Not to be confused with the 2007 American mockumentary comedy film Cook Off!.

Cook Off
Film poster
Directed byTomas Brickhill
Written byTomas Brickhill
Produced byJoe Njagu
StarringTendaiishe Chitima
Fungai Majaya
Tehn Diamond
Music byRyan Koriya
Production
company
Mufambanidzo Film Company
Distributed byMufambanidzo Film Company
Netflix
Release date
  • 31 December 2017 (2017-12-31)
Running time
101 minutes
CountryZimbabwe
LanguageEnglish

Cook Off is a 2017 Zimbabwean romantic comedy film written and directed by Tomas Brickhill.[1] Set in contemporary middle class society of Harare, the film stars Tendaiishe Chitima, Fungai Majaya and Tehn Diamond.[2] Production of the film was constantly hit with power failures, budget constraints, anti-government protests and riots which erupted during the final stages of the Presidency of Robert Mugabe. It became the first film to be released after the Zimbabwe Mugabe era which lasted for nearly 40 years.[3] The film also became the first Zimbabwean film to be streamed on Netflix.[4][5] It received international media attention since its release on the Netflix platform in June 2020.[6] It is only the second Zimbabwean film to receive international attention after Neria.[7] The film is hailed as one of the finest ever films in the Cinema of Zimbabwe after Neria and Yellow Card and opened to extremely positive response from Zimbabweans. The film is credited with shattering stereotypes of the Zimbabwean film industry which had been crippled by economic crisis and hyperinflation in the country.[8]

Synopsis

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When single mother Anesu (Tendaiishe Chitima) is secretly entered into a reality television cooking competition by her son, she must overcome the disapproval of her mother and the rivalry of professional chefs. She also finds love during the competition.

Cast

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Production

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The principal photography of the film commenced in 2017 when Robert Mugabe was still the president of Zimbabwe. The initial days of the shooting procedure of the film was disrupted by regular power cuts and the production team was forced to hire power generator for the shooting.[9][10] The film budget was limited to only food and bottled water for the cast and crew members. The daily budget limit was estimated around $20 equivalent to 18 euros which was insufficient to meet the expenditure on bottled mineral water. The film cast and crew consisted mostly of young artistes and film producer Njagu reportedly made deferred contracts with the cast and crew members instead of making an agreement for an immediate payment due to financial tussles. According to the lead actress of the film Chitima, none of the cast members had not received the payment for their work and efforts in the film.[11] By December 2020 all cast and crew had received payment in full. The film was completed with a low initial budget of only $8000.[12][13]

The portions of the film were predominantly shot on the sets of ZBC TV's reality show Battle of the Chefs: Harare, a Zimbabwean version of the popular American reality television show Top Chef.[14] The film shooting proceeded in the sets of the Battle of the Chefs at a time when the show went off-air. The film director Brickhill in an interview with The Guardian revealed that the film wouldn't have materialized without the support of Battle of the Chefs sets and financial support from voluntary donors.[11] The cast members also used the costumes, props and cooking pots from the sets of the Battle of the Chefs.

Popular UK indie rock band Noisettes was roped into feature in the soundtrack of the film. Shingai Shoniwa of the Noisettes band was also roped into play the cameo appearance in the film.[15] The shooting was also delayed on few occasions as few of the cast members were unable to commit to the schedule allocated to them due to the tear gas and riots in Harare which erupted against Robert Mugabe's administration.[16] Despite the odds and obstacles, the film production regained momentum after the infamous successful ousting of Robert Mugabe on 17 November 2017.

Release and reception

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The film had its debut release in a homemade cinema at the rooftop of the New Ambassador Hotel in Harare on 31 December 2017 and was later released at the Reps Theatre.[17][18] Soon after its theatrical release, the film was screened at various international film festivals held in South Africa, Netherlands, US, Botswana, Kenya, Swaziland, Belgium and New Zealand. The film was officially selected for premiere at the Nairobi Film Festival (June 2019), Cambria Film Festival, Rotterdam International Film Festival (January 2020), Seattle International Film Festival (May–June 2018), Afrika Film Festival (May 2019), Bushfire Festival (May 2019), Auckland New Zealand African Film Festival (February 2019), Zimbabwe International Film Festival, Pan African Film Festival, Silicon Valley African Film Festival (July 2018), Cannes Festival International du Film Pan-Africain (April 2019) and at the Durban International Film Festival (July 2018).[19][20] It also became the first Zimbabwean film in 22 years after Neria to have officially selected at the Rotterdam International Film Festival.[21] The film was opened to generally mixed reviews from critics.[22] The film had its London premiere at the Mayfair Hotel on 27 July 2019 and also featured in BBC World Service.[23][24][25]

It was reported that the American streaming platform Netflix during mid March 2020 sealed a deal with the filmmakers in order to obtain the streaming rights of the film for an undisclosed record price.[26] The director also refused to disclose the amount regarding the Netflix deal.[27] In May 2020, the filmmakers confirmed that the film would be released in Netflix platform in an official announcement in Twitter.[28] It also marked the first instance where Netflix acquired a Zimbabwean film.[29] The film made its debut in Netflix on 1 June 2020 after two and a half years since its theatrical release in Zimbabwe. It also became Zimbabwe's first feature film to be released via Netflix.[30] The film was deemed as relatively unknown by most of the Zimbabwean people until its release in Netflix.[31]

The television rights of the film was bought by the state channel ZBC Television and the film made its television debut on 11 August 2020.[32][18]

Awards and nominations

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The film received few awards and nominations at film festivals. It bagged a total of four awards at the film festivals, including two each at the 2020 Cambria Film Festival.[33] and Zimbabwe International Film Festival.[34][35] The film also received two National Arts Merit Awards presented by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe in 2019.

Year Award Category Result
2018 Zimbabwe International Film Festival Best Feature Won
Best Actress Won
2019 National Arts Merit Awards Best Actress Won
Best Feature Won
2020 Cambria Film Festival Nancy Green Founder's Award - Best Film Won
Audience Award - Best Feature Won
Afrika Film Festival Student Jury Award Nominated
Ambrosia Film Festival Best Film Nominated

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Zimbabwe: Faces Behind Zim's First Netflix Hit". allAfrica.com. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  2. ^ Dray, Kayleigh (24 June 2020). "Meet Tendaiishe Chitima, star of Netflix's record-breaking romcom". Stylist. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Post-Mugabe film premieres in Los Angeles". Bulawayo24 News. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Defying all odds: Zimbabwean romcom Cook Off makes Netflix debut". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  5. ^ "'Cook Off' Becomes First Independent Zimbabwean Film to be Acquired by Netflix". OkayAfrica. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  6. ^ Reuters Editorial. "'Cook Off' serves up Zimbabwe's Netflix film debut | Reuters Video". www.reuters.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ "Zimbabwe's Cook Off: How an $8,000 romcom made it to Netflix". BBC News. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Cook Off movie revives Zimbabwe's film muscle". The Chronicle. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  9. ^ "'Cook Off': The Zimbabwe film that defied all odds to reach Netflix". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  10. ^ Cotterill, Joseph (3 July 2020). "The Zimbabwean romcom and Netflix: 'Now it's Africans telling stories'". www.ft.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Cook Off, the no-budget romcom that became the first Zimbabwean film on Netflix". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 31 May 2020. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  12. ^ "'Cook Off': The Zimbabwean film that defied all the odds". Channel. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Comment une comédie romantique sur Netflix a été réalisée avec 8 000 dollars". BBC News Afrique (in French). 24 June 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Zimbabwe romcom 'Cook Off' delights on Netflix debut". RFI. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Game of Thrones Star Celebrates First Zimbabwean Movie on Netflix". iHarare News. 10 May 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  16. ^ "'Cook Off': the Zimbabwe film that defied all odds to reach Netflix". France 24. 30 May 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  17. ^ "'Cook Off' movie premiers on high note". The Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Cook Off, ZBC ink screening deal". The Zimbabwe Daily. 27 July 2020. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Local film goes to Durban festival". The Chronicle. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  20. ^ "#DIFF First post-Mugabe Zimbabwean film to premiere in Durban". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Zimbabwean Movie, Cook Off selected for the International Film Festival Rotterdam". Creative Loop. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  22. ^ Zvomuya@percyzvomuya, By: Percy; Culture (7 July 2020). "Film Review | Cook Off". New Frame. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  23. ^ "'Cook Off' movie set for UK premiere". 3 July 2019.
  24. ^ "Zimbabwe's first post-Mugabe feature film - to premiere in the UK". Bulawayo24 News. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  25. ^ "Zimbabwe: 'Cook Off' Movie Set for UK Premiere". allAfrica.com. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  26. ^ Zimoyo, Tafadzwa (11 May 2020). "Zimbabwe: 'Cook Off' in Milestone Netflix Deal". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  27. ^ "Zimbabwe's Award-Winning Film 'Cook Off' On Netflix Screens". allAfrica.com. 11 May 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  28. ^ Leandra Engelbrecht (26 May 2020). "South Africa: Netflix to Stream Zimbabwean Rom-Com 'Cook Off'". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  29. ^ "'Cook Off' heats up: Netflix debut a triumph for Zimbabwe film". Christian Science Monitor. 27 May 2020. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  30. ^ Dzirutwe, MacDonald (1 June 2020). "Zimbabwean film industry makes Netflix debut with 'Cook Off'". Reuters. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  31. ^ "Zimbabwean film Cook Off debuts on OTT. We also have nice stories, says producer Joe Njagu". India Today. Reuters. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  32. ^ Darmalingum, Yuveshen (31 July 2020). "Zimbabwe's First Movie On Netflix "Cook Off" to Be Aired On ZBC". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  33. ^ Staff, News (11 February 2020). "Cambria Film Festival announces winners". pasoroblesdailynews.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  34. ^ Marunya, Kundai (12 February 2020). "Zimbabwe: 'Cook Off' Bags Two More Awards". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  35. ^ "'Cook Off' bags two more awards". The Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
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