Invision Studios

Invision Studios is a Zimbabwean film and television production company based in Harare. It was established in May 2013 by filmmakers Charles Mugaviri Jr., Blessing Chinanga, and Denise Edwards. The company’s work combines commercial screen production with a talent-development mission, particularly by giving emerging Zimbabwean writers, directors, actors, and production crew opportunities to make and exhibit locally produced work. One of the company’s earliest documented initiatives was In Short, a platform launched in January 2014 for amateur and aspiring filmmakers and screenwriters. Participants submitted scripts and received practical support from the founders in directing and producing their first short films. Invision Studios supplied or coordinated crew, equipment, and post-production guidance without charging the participating filmmakers. The resulting films were screened at Book Cafe in Harare on the last Wednesday of each month, creating a public showcase as well as a production pipeline. During the eight months of the initiative, the studio produced more than 38 short films, equivalent to approximately four to six films per month. Assistance from the European Union and Pamberi Trust helped cover production costs and enabled the group to work with new filmmakers in Chinhoyi, Masvingo, Gweru, and Bulawayo. The studio subsequently expanded from short-form development work into feature films and television. Its 2015 feature Far From Yesterday originated with a screenplay conceived by Denise Edwards in 2013. Edwards, Chinanga, and Mugaviri developed the story in early 2015, and production followed shortly afterward. The film featured Jonathan Denga, John Cole, Denise Edwards, Gani Phiri, Stacy Danana, and Hannah Madzikanda, with singer Ammara Brown making her film debut. Far From Yesterday later received television exposure on M-Net’s Mzansi Wethu. Hannah Madzikanda won Actress of the Year at the Zimbabwe International Women’s Awards for her performance, becoming, according to the referenced account, the youngest award-winning child actress in Zimbabwe at the time. Invision also developed unscripted and lifestyle television for regional broadcasters. Wine & Dine with Tumi, developed in 2015 and hosted by Tumi Moleko, combined cooking, wine, and interviews with prominent Zimbabwean personalities. MultiChoice acquired the broadcasting licence for the program for Zambezi Magic after the channel’s launch, making it one of the early Zimbabwean productions carried by the Southern African channel. Wedding Diaries followed in 2016. Conceived by Denise Edwards and produced by Blessing Chinanga, the program explored how married couples organized their weddings and included contributions from wedding planner Kevin Zhou and marriage counsellor Evan Mawarire. It was also licensed by MultiChoice for Zambezi Magic. The company later moved into digital genre entertainment with Captain Mfombi, described in the reference material as Zimbabwe’s first superhero web series. The project was created by Charles Mugaviri Jr., Shaun Mundawarara, Denise Edwards, and Blessing Chinanga, and stars beatboxer and rapper Pro Beatz. It was distributed through YouTube on the Pano TV channel, with the project’s launch reported in January 2021 after development and production activity beginning in 2019. Across its output, Invision Studios has therefore operated across short films, feature film, lifestyle television, reality or factual programming, and online scripted entertainment. Its documented distribution relationships include Zambezi Magic, ZBC, M-Net’s Mzansi Wethu, YouTube, and Pano TV. Publicly available reference material does not establish a current executive roster, ownership structure, annual revenue, or a standalone corporate website.

Invision Studios was founded in Harare in May 2013 by Charles Mugaviri Jr., Blessing Chinanga, and Denise Edwards. The founders established the company as a Zimbabwean screen-production venture with a focus on both producing content and helping new filmmakers gain practical experience. In January 2014, the studio introduced In Short. The initiative invited amateur and aspiring filmmakers and writers to submit scripts and develop their first short films with assistance from the founding team. Invision provided access to crew, equipment, and post-production guidance at no cost to participants. Completed films were screened at Book Cafe on the last Wednesday of each month. Financial and institutional assistance from the European Union and Pamberi Trust supported production and allowed the project to collaborate with filmmakers outside Harare, including in Chinhoyi, Masvingo, Gweru, and Bulawayo. More than 38 short films were completed during the initiative’s eight-month run. The company moved into feature filmmaking in 2015 with Far From Yesterday. Denise Edwards had originally conceived and written the screenplay in 2013, and the founding team began developing it in February 2015. The film was produced over approximately three months and included a cast of Jonathan Denga, John Cole, Denise Edwards, Gani Phiri, Stacy Danana, and Hannah Madzikanda. Ammara Brown appeared in the production in what was identified as her debut film role. Madzikanda received an Actress of the Year award at the Zimbabwe International Women’s Awards for her performance. The film was subsequently broadcast on M-Net’s Mzansi Wethu. In July 2015, the founders developed Wine & Dine with Tumi, a format combining cooking and conversations with Zimbabwean public figures. Hosted by Tumi Moleko, the program was licensed by MultiChoice for Zambezi Magic. It was among the early Zimbabwean shows carried by the newly launched Southern African channel. Invision followed with Wedding Diaries in 2016. Denise Edwards developed the concept and Blessing Chinanga produced it. The show examined the organization of weddings by married couples and included wedding planner Kevin Zhou and marriage counsellor Evan Mawarire. The studio later pursued online genre programming through Captain Mfombi. The superhero web series was created by Mugaviri, Shaun Mundawarara, Edwards, and Chinanga, and starred beatboxer and rapper Pro Beatz. Although the project is associated with production activity beginning in 2019, its launch was reported in January 2021 on YouTube through Pano TV. The title represented a move beyond conventional broadcast television toward locally produced digital entertainment. Invision Studios has also been associated with television productions distributed or broadcast through Zambezi Magic and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. The available reference material does not provide a complete catalogue, current management list, ownership information, financial history, or official company website.

• 2021

  Captain Mfombi released online

  [1]Invision Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  The web series was launched on YouTube through the Pano TV channel.

• 2019

  Captain Mfombi project begins

  [1]Invision Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Production or development activity for the Captain Mfombi superhero web series is associated with this period.

• 2016

  Wedding Diaries enters production

  [1]Invision Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  The studio produced a wedding-focused television program later licensed for broadcast by MultiChoice on Zambezi Magic.

• 2015

  Far From Yesterday produced

  [1]Invision Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Invision developed and produced its feature film Far From Yesterday, based on a screenplay conceived by Denise Edwards.

• 2015

  Wine & Dine with Tumi licensed by MultiChoice

  [1]Invision Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  The cooking and interview program became one of the early Zimbabwean productions licensed for Zambezi Magic.

• 2014

  In Short begins

  [1]Invision Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  The studio launched an initiative supporting aspiring filmmakers and screenwriters in making short films with free production assistance.

• 2014

  In Short completes more than 38 films

  [1]Invision Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  The eight-month program produced more than 38 short films and screened them at Book Cafe in Harare.

• 2013

  Invision Studios founded

  [1]Invision Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Charles Mugaviri Jr., Blessing Chinanga, and Denise Edwards founded the production company in Harare, Zimbabwe, in May.

A Zimbabwean screen-production studio that pairs locally rooted film and television development with practical opportunities for emerging creative talent.

• Short-film development platform · 2014

  In Short

  In Short was an emerging-filmmaker initiative created by Invision Studios in 2014. Aspiring writers and filmmakers submitted scripts and received assistance with directing, producing, crew organization, equipment, and post-production. The studio presented completed films publicly at Book Cafe in Harare, while support from the European Union and Pamberi Trust helped extend production activity to several Zimbabwean cities. More than 38 short films were produced during the program’s eight months.

• Feature film · 2015

  Far From Yesterday

  Far From Yesterday was a Zimbabwean feature film developed by Charles Mugaviri Jr., Blessing Chinanga, and Denise Edwards from a screenplay conceived and written by Edwards. Produced in 2015 over approximately three months, it featured Jonathan Denga, John Cole, Denise Edwards, Gani Phiri, Stacy Danana, and Hannah Madzikanda. Singer Ammara Brown appeared in the film in her debut acting role. The production later received television exposure on M-Net’s Mzansi Wethu.

• Lifestyle television program · 2015

  Wine & Dine with Tumi

  Wine & Dine with Tumi is a cooking and interview format hosted by Tumi Moleko. Each episode brought a Zimbabwean personality together with the host to prepare a meal, share wine, and discuss their life or work. Developed by Invision Studios in 2015, the program was licensed by MultiChoice for the Zambezi Magic channel and formed part of the studio’s move into regional television broadcasting.

• Television program · 2016

  Wedding Diaries

  Wedding Diaries is a television program centered on married couples and the organization of their weddings. Denise Edwards developed the concept and Blessing Chinanga produced the show. Its contributors included wedding planner Kevin Zhou and marriage counsellor Evan Mawarire, giving the format both event-planning and relationship-advice elements. MultiChoice licensed the program for broadcast on Zambezi Magic.

• Superhero web series · 2021

  Captain Mfombi

  Captain Mfombi is a locally developed superhero web series created by Charles Mugaviri Jr., Shaun Mundawarara, Denise Edwards, and Blessing Chinanga. The production stars beatboxer and rapper Pro Beatz and applies the superhero format to a Zimbabwean setting and creative team. It was released through YouTube on the Pano TV channel, with the launch reported in January 2021 after development or production activity associated with 2019.

• 2014In Short

  Zimbabwe

  A talent-development and short-film production initiative that invited emerging writers and filmmakers to create films with free assistance from Invision Studios. Public screenings at Book Cafe and outreach to cities outside Harare gave the project both exhibition and access functions.

  Outcome. More than 38 short films were produced over eight months, with production support from the European Union and Pamberi Trust.

  Source

• 2021

  Move into online superhero entertainmentStrategy

  Background

  The studio developed a locally rooted superhero concept as digital video platforms became an outlet for Zimbabwean productions.

  Action taken

  Captain Mfombi was released through YouTube on the Pano TV channel.

  Aftermath

  The project extended Invision’s documented output from broadcast television and feature film into web-series distribution.

  Source

• 2015

  Expand into regional lifestyle televisionProduct launch

  Background

  After developing film and short-form work, the studio developed a television concept combining cooking with interviews of Zimbabwean personalities.

  Action taken

  Invision produced Wine & Dine with Tumi and secured a MultiChoice broadcasting licence for Zambezi Magic.

  Aftermath

  The program became one of the early Zimbabwean productions carried by the newly launched regional channel.

  Source

• 2014

  Create a free emerging-filmmaker production pipelineStrategy

  Background

  The founders sought to help amateur and aspiring filmmakers and screenwriters begin careers in Zimbabwe’s screen sector.

  Action taken

  Invision Studios created In Short, supplying participating filmmakers with production assistance, equipment, crew coordination, and post-production guidance without charge.

  Aftermath

  The initiative produced more than 38 short films and screened them publicly during its eight-month operation.

  Source

1. 1Invision Studiosen.wikipedia.org