The Rift
Immersive film featuring contemporary dance in Zimbabwe
2025
8min 22sec
UK - Zimbabwe
Overview
Dance film set amidst the rich and varied landscapes of Zimbabwe, where performers express the tension, resilience and interconnectedness between people and the natural world under the pressures of climate change. With their movements, the dancers explore the consequences of environmental disruption and the profound ways in which people and nature are intertwined.
Through abstract choreography, symbolic imagery and an atmospheric score, the work reflects the planet’s vulnerability, the challenges posed by environmental shifts and the transformative potential of collective effort. As the dancers navigate these ever-changing locations, their movements evoke the escalating consequences of a warming world, capturing both its fragility and the urgent call for action.
The Rift is a compelling invitation to reflect, engage and take action, inspiring audiences to recognise the urgency of climate change and the shared responsibility we hold toward the planet and each other.
The film is directed by the immersive studio 4Pi Productions (Wales, UK) and forms part of a collaborative project with media organisation Matamba Film Labs and dance hub Afrikera Arts Trust (Harare, Zimbabwe). Featuring a collaboration with Zimbabwean poet Rox Mathazia (known as Xapa) and musician Mary Anibal (Zimbabwe), with a remix and soundscapes by No Shape (Wales, UK), The Rift inspires audiences to embrace a commitment to a more sustainable future.
Delvin Pikani
Dancer
Sasha Kakono
Dancer
Ngonizashe Kamudyariwa
Dancer
Dazel Matake
DancerTechnical Specifications
Awards / Screenings
Grand Prize
New Images Festival - Paris 2026Jury Highly Commended
Dome Under Film Festival - Melbourne 2026Official Selection
IDFA DocLab - Amsterdam 2025 · Immersive Non-FictionOfficial Selection
Sous Dôme Festival - Paris 2026Official Selection
DomeFest West - Colorado, US 2026Official Selection
SAT Fest - Montreal 2026What People Say
"The mix of breathtaking visuals paired with the music was an amazing experience!"
Audience Member
IDFA DocLab Screening"Loved the visuals. 10/10"
Audience Member
"Beautiful cinematography, it is very engaging."
Audience Member
Behind the Scenes
Credits
Janire Najera
Director / Filmmaker / EditorMatt Wright
Director / FilmmakerSoukaina M-L Edom
Principal ChoreographerVictor Peturo
ChoreographerSiza Mukwedini
Producer ZimbabweKuda Makuzwa
Producer ZimbabweRhys Davies
FilmmakerMauricio Martin
Editor / VFX / Music RemixJamie Wilson
CompositingMary Anibal
Original compositionRox Mathazia / Xapa
PoetLauren James
Producer WalesDelvin Pikani
DancerSasha Kakono
DancerNgonizashe Kamudyariwa
DancerDazel Matake
Dancer
Want to screen this film?
The Rift is available for fulldome venues, festivals and planetariums worldwide.
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