The 11th Zimbabwe International Film Festival that opens in Harare next week focuses on Brazil.

This year's programme opens with a workshop conducted by the Brazilian Eduardo Izique Thursday.

The actual festival will however kick off on September 5 and runs till September 14.

Dubbed the masterclass programme, the workshop will run in phases for 16 days and will be complemented by a 10-day screening programme that focuses on the history of the Brazilian cinema.

The workshop will concentrate on directing, writing, film editing, soun and cinematography.

Paolo Gregori, Eduardo Izique, Azul Serra and Andre Soler will facilitate the sessions.

Some of the content material to be discussed include scouting for a script idea; script exercises; evaluating ideas; language and tradition; cinema as a powerful means of expression through a specific language.

Brazilian Professor of History of Brazilian Cinema Andre Gatti will introduce and briefly talk about the films to be screened.

The Brazilian Embassy will also premiere the feature film The Year My Parents Went on vacation and Marcel Izidoro will bring his film Black Box.