New voices in film push cinema toward real-life storytelling

Love stories may still dominate Tanzanian screens, but a growing movement of filmmakers is demanding a narrative shift one that confronts the deeper, often ignored realities shaping everyday life.

From mental health to identity crises and poverty to gender-based violence, these creators are calling for cinema that not only entertains but also awakens.

While romance and comedy will always have a place, stakeholders argue there must be room for stories that dig deeper into the pain, confusion, and complexity of the human condition.

While acknowledging the place of romance and comedy in popular cinema, Tunu Mbegu, an actress from the film ‘Niko Sawa’, believes cinema should go beyond entertainment.

“It’s okay to create love stories,” says the actress. “But let’s also make space for the stories that don’t make it into headlines. That’s where cinema becomes powerful.” She adds that there should also be room for deeper storytelling.

“A great film touches people beyond the screen,” she says. “It should stay with you, make you feel something even if it’s just the need to talk about what you saw.”

In the same vein, a filmmaker, Cecilia Lubango, steps outside the usual patterns of local cinema with ‘Tears in the Rain’, a film that confronts a topic rarely addressed in Tanzanian film, mental health among pregnant women.

Speaking to The Citizen, Ms Cecilia said one of her long-time desires has been to create films that provoke thought and spark conversation.

“I like to spotlight the hidden issues within society. What stood out to me most was the challenges that mothers go through,” she says.

‘Tears in the Rain’ is a raw and intimate exploration of postpartum depression, it tells the story of a first-time mother silently battling emotional breakdowns in the aftermath of childbirth.

The silence inspired her to write, research, and eventually direct a film that not only reflected her own struggles but could serve as a voice for others suffering behind closed doors.

Film producer Doreen Kilimbe said the problem is not a lack of creativity but funds.

“There’s no one who doesn’t want change, but the budget is what forces most filmmakers to produce basic content, the same kind of work that fans keep seeing,” she explains.

She shares that many filmmakers are forced to compromise, even when their stories are strong and original.

Calls for more diverse, daring, and socially relevant films continue to grow, filmmakers are urged take risks, and slowly change the face of Tanzanian cinema, one story at a time.