Beginning years ago in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, an epic…. the story of a child, living on the streets, surviving by scavenging on the municipal dump, battered and bruised but rising against all odds, daring to dream …..
Kelli’s test make up, pre-shooting, on child actor Sikhanyisio Ngwenye
Director and writer, Jessica J. Rowlands vision for a film grew, centered on the child’s true story,
The vision grew on the railway tracks…
on location
The vision grew on the municipal dump….
Make up station on location- at the dump
The vision grew in the boxing ring…
Kelli tries boxing gloves for size…
Joe Njagu ably producing, this teamwork gave powerful life to the story in the tourism town of Victoria Falls …
A creative force
Joe and Kelli on location
Kelli began to perfect bruised and battered make up effects for the movie well before the filming …practicing on Biggie (who has helped her with other film projects over the last few years as well! )
Kelli had done extensive pre-test make ups on friend Biggie-
I have waited in anticipation for this 25 minute short film… – a culmination of last years hard work by the Rise crew in Victoria Falls.
and at last here we go -heading to Joina City movie house in harare for the premiere
driving in Fanwell’s “little limo”
driven by our dear friend, and ex gardener, Kelli’s ‘brother’ Fanwell who himself is a self-made success story – fighting the odds from humble beginnings to get his drivers licence and now owner is a small fleet of taxi cabs and a “little limo” – (no stretch limo needed for us) ….. braving the chaotic Harare traffic..
Kelli and Fanwell
Zimbabweans are known for punching above their weight….
Sikhanyisio Ngwenye and Kelli Barker at the after party – looking fierce… facing life!
Kelli’s poignant make up on Ska:
Sikhanisio Ngwenye (Ska) and Kelli Barker make up –
Close up:
Sikhanyisio Ngwenye (Ska) and Kelli Barker make up –
The fab flyer… RISE!
and this premier on screen at Ster Kinekor Joina City in Harare last week was an affirmation of creative teamwork, film family and perseverance against all odds…
Kelli Barker MUA,; Jessica Rowlands, Director,; Tobias, Boxer and Inspiration….
some lovely red carpet moments before the screening …
Joe Njagu in a magnificent Jaspizy jacketTongai Chirisa and KelliEddie Sandifolo – so cool in blueDear friend and fellow creative, Sebastien Lallemande and Kellired carpet buzz
Popcorn was dispensed and we eagerly went into the movie house …. Well done Jessica for persevering, true to the spirit of the film, as the audience and cast remained steadfast and patient in the face of some technical cinema glitches and a few false starts …!!!
Popcorn kept us entertained while technical movie house glitches were surmounted ….
Jessica prevailed. After a powerful and very moving 25 minutes of Rise, we emerged from the movie theatre energized and inspired by the strong vision and storytelling – eager to see this become a full length feature in the future, after doing the short film circuit and Sundance Film Festival… fingers crossed.
Happily heading off to Saints and Sinners for an after party..
Nakai Matema and Kelli (who’s the Saint, who’s the Sinner ?!?!)
paparazzi…
Signing Rise t shirts.. can’t wash that now…Chatting to friend, charismatic lead actor Tongai ChirisaExciting new ideas in the pipeline…always…Intense creative brainstorming with actress Sibongile Mlambo- gorgeous zimbabwe style…
Watch out for Rise! (Eat your heart out Rocky…)
And breaking news now in 2025 added:
For the NAMAS awards 2025, #ska is nominated in the line up!!So proud of Ska, our brilliant young Zimbabwean actor who is nominated for best actor at the National Arts Merit Awards for the film RISE
Lin Barrie
The Save Valley Conservancy stretches along the upper reaches of the great Save River in the south east of Zimbabwe. The Gonarezhou National Park laps against the southern banks of the Save River and between these two nestles the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve. These three celebrated wildlife areas form part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, (GLTFCA)- a unique wilderness jewel which is home to the “Big Five” (endangered Black and White rhinos, elephants, buffalo, lion, leopard) and the ”Little Six” (Klipspringer, Suni, Duiker, Steenbok, Sharpe's Grysbok and Oribi). Endangered African wild dogs, Cheetah, Brown hyena, Bat-eared foxes and a host of special birds and plants contribute to the immense variety of this ecosystem. Communities around the GLTFCA contribute to innovative partnerships with National Parks and the private sector, forming a sound base on which to manage social, economic and environmental issues.
This is home to artist and writer Lin Barrie and her life partner, conservationist Clive Stockil.
Expressing her hopes, fears and love for this special ecosystem with oil paints on canvas, Lin Barrie believes that the essence of a landscape, person or animal, can only truly be captured by direct observation.
Lin Barrie states: “Through my art, and my writing, I feel an intimate connection with the natural world, and from my extensive field sketches of wild animals, people and landscapes, I create larger works on canvas.
Lin's work is in various public and private collections in South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Australia, England, Canada, Sweden and the United States of America. She is represented by galleries in South Africa, Zimbabwe, England, Kenya and Florida, USA.
wine and wild dogs 
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