Simon Atkins - Simukai

Simon Atkins *Simukai*

— Unsung Heroes (corporate) — British Army Everest Expedition - Nepal —
— Minnie Driver's Excellent Adventure — Living with Refugees — One LIfe — Sailing the Atlantic —
— Death on the Amazon — Is Anyone Listening? — The Real Macaw — Twister Tours — Revenge of the Lost Tribe —
— Buying Beauty — Investigating Asia — Karabakh — Seven Go Mad in Peru — Osaka Story —
— Simukai — Passing Judgement — Parks or People — Sangay —

Talent & Angela
Simukai Cooperative

SIMUKAI
stand up and be counted
1 hr, 16mm, 1995

NFTS/EU/Independent. Observational documentary. The origins of Zimbabwe's explosive land rights crisis through the eyes of a group of war veterans

Producer/Director and Cinematographer

Simukai Cooperative was set up by a group of ex-fighters after the Zimbabwean War of Independence on a farm previously owned by Whites.

This film follows the dramatic story of the community twelve years on, torn between economic survival and remaining true to the socialist ideology of the liberation struggle.

Simukai - stand up and be counted

Having spent a year teaching in Zimbabwe with VSO in 1988, I was determined to return to the country. I wanted to make a documentary that reflected some of the fascinating realities and contradictions of everyday life that exist for much of the population.

With a generous grant from the European Union, and as my graduation film from the National Film and Television School, I was able to spend three months researching and filming for Simukai.

Andrew in the main co-op office

Tobacco worker with fresh leaves

Festivals

Royal Anthropological Institute Festival of Ethnographic Film
Leipzig International Documentary Film Festival (Germany)
Pan African Film & TV Festival, FESPACO (Burkina Faso)
Fribourg International Film Festival (Switzerland)
Bilan du Film Ethnographique, Paris