Bonus: RISE (2025) - Audience Reactions

I had the absolute joy of attending the World Premiere of the short film RISE at the world-famous Tribeca Film Festival! 

Inspired by the life of Tobias Mupfuti, RISE is written and directed by Jessica J Rowlands, executive produced by ZimExcellence fave Joe Njagu, and stars the ever-charismatic Tongayi Chirisa alongside breakout star Sikhanyiso Ngwenya.

In this episode, I share initial reactions from the audience. 

🎧🎙️ Up next: Behind-the-scenes conversations with the creative team!

For more information: 

Website: https://risezimbabwe.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rise.zimbabwe

Cast & Credits

Directed and Written by Jessica J. Rowlands

Producer

Joe Njagu

Cinematographer

Jacques Naudé

Composer

Max Uldahl

Editor

Paul Watts, Roman Kuznets

Executive Producer

Tobias Mupfuti, Tongayi Chirisa, Elizabeth Morse Gilcreast, Barbara Lettieri, Juliette Duran

Key Production Team

Joe Njagu, Nakai Matema, Leonard Matsa, Philip Marumha, Taurai Kawara, Wilson Biswell

Camera/Lighting Team

Jacques Naudé, Diogo Domingues, Farai Chimombe, Gregory Shambare, Nigel Ncube

Art Department & Sound

Mmeli Mabhikwa, Kelli Barker, Kundai Mandivheyi, Chelsea Mangwiro, Kuda Sombi, Simon

Original Vocals & Music

Hope Masike, Tawanda T Maoneni, Mokoomba, David HD Hondoyedzomba, Leo Magozz, Jah

Cast

Tongayi Chirisa, Sikhanyiso Ngwenya, Edmet Dube, Kelvin Taliana, Cilemeko Tickey Mudenda, Charles Ndlovu, Prudence Mubaiwa, Samson Mdimba, Phineas Makuvaza, Tobias Mupfuti

Contacts

International Sales + US Contact

Jessica Rowlands
Rise Zimbabwe Ltd
Victoria Falls, 263
Phone: +447956619515
jessicajrowlands@gmail.com

Press Contact

Jessica Rowlands
Rise Zimbabwe Ltd
Victoria Falls, 263
Phone: +447956619515
jessicajrowlands@gmail.com

#ZimExcellence #RISEFilm #Tribeca2025 #ZimbabweToTheWorld

Transcript

[upbeat music plays] 

Intro : Yo! Welcome to the party! Hello! Makadini. Salibonani. My name is Vongai and you’re listening to ZimExcellence, a weekly celebration of Zimbabwe’s changemakers and trailblazers. So here’s the secret y’all Zimbabweans are actually DOPE AF and it’s just time that we recognize it. So grab yourself a plate of sadza, grab that Stoney ginger beer and let the party begin! 

Hello and welcome to another episode of ZimExcellence, in case you missed it this is a special bonus series that I am doing to celebrate and also help promote the film RISE. In case you missed the previous episode (you can go and listen to it at any time. RISE made history as the first ever Zimbabwean film to debut at the Tribeca Film Festival. It made its World Premiere at Tribeca on June 8th 2025. It is written and directed by Jessica Rowlands and stars Tongayi Chirisa and newcomer Sikhanyiso Ngwenya. It is inspired by the life of Tobias Mupfuti who is the head boxing coach at Victoria Falls Boxing Academy. In the previous episode, I went through my thoughts on the day. Being invited to the screen, the intimate lunch afterwards with the Zimbabwean community. How I found the film to be inspiring, powerful, beautifully told and that the visuals are just so stunning but don’t take my word for it. The purpose of today’s episode is to share what other people thought, people who agreed to be on the mic with me, they’re not being paid to give your their opinions. It’s very candid, very initial audience reactions so you don’t have to take my word for it and so you know what other people thought about the film. Before I cue up the audio, I would like for y’all to keep in mind that these quick soundbites were recorded inside or outside a busy restaurant. My button mics have voice cancellation but I was not able to do a proper soundtest so it may sound a bit noisy for the most part but I think it just adds a little something to the ambiance but you’ll be able to hear what everyone had to say and I believe it’s maybe 4 or 5 people that I managed to talk to. Anyway without a further ado, here is what other people who are not me thought about the film, RISE. 

Person 1: The movie was so great. It was inspiring. It was lovely. It was a tearjerker. Loved it.   

Person 2:  That was an amazing movie. Zimbabwe should be so proud. I don't know what we did to deserve such a caliber of talent, such great direction, such great production. I'm forward to seeing the heights  that this film is gonna go. 

Person 3: I loved it. Definitely a 5-star film

Person 4: Okay. So we were able to watch the premiere of Rise at Tribeca Film Festival and my opinion. Deeply moving. It was incredible Tobias' story told with such intimacy and such a focus on the joy even in times of adversity. So I wish it the best luck and incredible work.

Person 5: I thought the film was absolutely beautiful. It was stunning. It was emotional, it was uplifting, it was heartbreaking. I think visually it was also like stunning, like the African landscape, along with the music that they used from that first sequence, that first opening sequence of a minute. You could feel the whole cinema was like gripped and locked in and the energy completely changed and it was how it looked visually and how it opened. It was so strong. And then it just kept that going the entire time. It built into something. Yeah. Really, really uplifting and um, it was a privilege to be there for it. It was a privilege to be there for it and to be in a whole room with everybody collectively watching it for the first time. But yeah, it was great 

Person 6: Oh the film was amazing. I loved the reaction from the audience. I think ours was the best film. Listened to me saying ours was the best film. I liked how people, you know, applauded after every few scenes. It just shows that this was an amazing scene and the young man is going places. He has done so well for himself, and we wish him all the best in the future.

Outro: Mazvita. Tatenda. Siyabonga. Thank you so much for tuning in to this week’s episode of ZimExcellence.  If you found value from this episode please share it with a friend and go ahead and subscribe, rate and review. 

If you send me a screenshot of your review I’ll make sure to give you a shoutout on future episodes. Feel free to tag us on Instagram. @zimexcellencepodcast

And if you identify as Zimbabwean I want to hear your story so go ahead and email zimexcellencepodcast@gmail.com. Til then have the best week and stay ZimExcellent!