Raising of a Giant Targets International Film Markets

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare

Zimbabwean television drama Raising of a Giant is set to enter international film markets, with its producers planning promotional engagements in South Africa, Spain and Malta to attract distribution opportunities, production partnerships and investment.

The six-part drama is a collaboration between Black Lips Film Production and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), with financial backing from Prevail International Group of Companies, founded by Dr Paul Tungwarara, the Special Presidential Investment Advisor. Black Lips Film Production, led by Sibusisiwe Busie Mzinja, plans to present the project at MIP Africa 2026 in Cape Town from 28 to 30 October before travelling to Spain and Malta from 1 to 6 November.

MIP Africa brings together content producers, broadcasters, buyers, distributors and financiers, providing a platform for television and film projects seeking international partnerships and market access. Mzinja said the production team intends to use the marketplace to introduce Raising of a Giant to potential international partners.

“The annual content marketplace brings together producers, broadcasters, content buyers and financiers,” she said, adding that the team hoped to use the opportunity to promote the series beyond Zimbabwe. The subsequent European visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Known Associates Spain, which has partnered with Black Lips on production services. According to Mzinja, the programme will include tours of production and post-production facilities, alongside meetings with creative professionals and potential financial partners.

Known Associates Group provides production services to international film companies working in locations including South Africa, Spain and Malta. The planned engagements are intended to explore how the Zimbabwean production could benefit from established facilities, technical expertise and international industry networks. A key consideration is the potential to reduce production costs through film incentives available in the two European countries.

Spain provides tax deductions for qualifying foreign film and audiovisual productions, generally offering 30 percent on the first €1 million of eligible expenditure and 25 percent on the excess, subject to applicable requirements. Malta’s film incentive programme offers a cash rebate of up to 40 percent on eligible expenditure, depending on the production and qualifying conditions.

Mzinja said Black Lips intended to film most of the series’ interior scenes in Spain and Malta, subject to the arrangements and incentives available. She said the proposed approach could give the production access to professional studios and post-production facilities while creating opportunities for Zimbabwean filmmakers and ZBC personnel to gain international experience.

The producers also hope the project will open pathways to international distribution, streaming platforms and film festivals. Beyond its commercial ambitions, the series is being positioned as a platform to showcase Zimbabwe’s cultures, communities, heritage and landscapes to international audiences.

Mzinja said the planned cooperation with Spanish and Maltese industry partners could strengthen cultural and diplomatic connections while creating work opportunities in film production, hospitality and transport.

The project’s international expansion comes amid efforts to build the capacity and visibility of Zimbabwe’s creative industries. However, its longer-term impact will depend on whether the planned engagements translate into financing, distribution agreements, local skills development and sustained employment.

For Raising of a Giant, the immediate objective is to move from a locally developed television production to a project capable of attracting international audiences and industry partners, while retaining its Zimbabwean identity.

Raising of a Giant Zimbabwe drama