What has it been like becoming a Netflix star overnight?

This is my first feature film, so the support I’ve been receiving on Twitter is so welcome. When you do something for the first time, and you get good feedback, it’s like, ‘Yes! I took a risk with this and it’s working!’ The validation has been amazing. But I’m going to be thinking seriously about how I use my newfound platform going forward. I have a couple of ideas already: my career didn’t happen overnight, so I’ve had time to think about my values and how I hope to communicate them to the people following me.

You’ve called this film a “love letter to Zimbabwe” – what do you mean by this?

As Zimbabweans, we’ve had such a rough time. The economy hasn’t been so good. Politics-wise, it hasn’t been so good. People have struggled. And I know a lot of young people have been finding it hard to get work, let alone pursue their dreams. Building a life in your own home country is important – it gives you a sense of belonging, helps you feel connected with your own people – but so many Zimbabweans have had to leave the country.

Cook Off feels very authentic to the Zimbabwean experience. The authenticity of the people, the places, the challenges we face, are all shown in the film, while Anesu’s story of triumph plays out over this backdrop. So I think the film serves as a love letter to anyone who is struggling in Zimbabwe right now. It’s here to tell them it’s OK, inspire them to keep striving and pushing. To tell them nothing is impossible. Just the fact that Cook Off made it to Netflix shows us that nothing is impossible. I hope its success inspires Zimbabweans, and reminds them that their hard work can pay off.

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