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Logline

Suffering from a supernatural malady, a woman returns to her homeland and solicits her sister’s help to find a cure, only to walk into a trap that reveals she’s not the only “sick” one.

Synopsis

After a long stretch abroad, Vimbai returns to Zimbabwe and solicits her sister Monica’s help to cure a rare condition that haunts her existence, causing her skin to burn in daylight and fueling an insatiable thirst for blood—vampirism. She must sacrifice her desires in order for her loved ones to live. Monica has located a sangoma, traditional healer, who purports to have the ultimate cure.

As they journey through the vibrant countryside, a series of events unfold revealing glimpses of Vimbai’s struggle with her vampirism. She battles her dark urges, employing every ounce of willpower to suppress them.

The atmosphere shifts to foreboding as they enter the sangoma’s dimly lit hut. Too late, they realize they’ve walked into a trap. A fierce struggle for Vimbai’s life unfolds, with Monica entering the fray. In the heat of the battle, hidden truths about their identities and transformations come to light revealing who they truly are and who they have become.

Veins of the Veld is a short film that dares to ask, “What if the monsters we fear are the very ones we need to embrace?”
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Nomsa L Mlambo – Writer/Producer/Actor
Nomsa L Mlambo is a dynamic and versatile actor with a passion for bringing characters to life on stage and screen. With appearances in hit TV shows like The Upshaws on Netflix, Sherman’s Showcase on Hulu, and The Mysterious Benedict Society on Disney+, as well as features, short films and commercials, Nomsa has proven herself to be a multifaceted and skilled performer, known for her ability to fully embody a wide range of roles. In addition to acting, Nomsa is writing and is looking forward to shooting her short, Veins of the Veld, in 2024.

Tendayi Nyeke – Executive Producer
Tendayi’s multi-genre creative work has been awarded internationally. A former broadcast executive who helmed several award-winning shows, Tendayi has also written, produced, and directed television programs across global platforms. Most recently, she Executive Produced the Annie Award-winning Disney+ science fiction Anthology Kizazi Moto (2023) with Oscar-winning director Peter Ramsey of Spiderverse acclaim.

Bongani Mlambo – Cinematographer
Bongani Mlambo is Zimbabwean-born cinematographer based in Los Angeles, California. He loves to tell authentic, compelling and visually creative stories. His most recent work includes: We’re All Gonna Die by Freddie Wong and Matt Arnold which premiered at SXSW 2024; The Hair Tales TV series by Tracee Ellis Ross and Michaela Angela Davis for OWN, Onyx Collective, and Hulu. He is a 2018 Film Independent Project Involve Fellow and has collaborated with filmmakers in Disney Launchpad, WarnerMedia OneFifty, Netflix Emerging Filmmaker Initiative, Hulu’s Bite Size Halloween. Bongani supports diversity and inclusion in front of and behind the lens.

Sibongile Mlambo – Actor
Sibongile Mlambo is a Zimbabwean-born actress based in Los Angeles, California. She is known for her roles in Florida Man, Siren, Lost In Space, & Teen Wolf. Her film credits include Message From the King alongside Chadwick Boseman, Under the Silver Lake with Riley Keough & Andrew Garfield, and The Last Face starring Charlize Theron & Javier Bardem.

Beyond acting, Sibongile has served as a consultant on the TV show Shadow & Bone. She has also produced short films, one of which, The Sadness In Freedom, will be having its premiere at the Beverly Hills Film Festival in May 2024.

Vicki Syal – Producer
Vicki Syal is a Brazilian-Indian producer whose work has earned accolades at festivals such as LALIFF, HBO Women in Comedy Festival, Outfest, the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, Icaro, and more. Her film Abrazo has garnered over 25 awards to date including best short film and best director. In 2024, she co-wrote and produced What to Expect, a short film financed by Latino Public Broadcasting to be distributed by PBS and her feature film Stakes is High won the Narrative Grand Jury Prize at DIFF. Vicki also produced The Adventures of Robin Hood for Warner Brothers’ 100th Anniversary celebration, and her project For Your Own Good was a top five finalist in Tribeca’s Untold Stories contest. Most recently, her project Skrrrt was selected for the inaugural cohort of Dirty Film’s Proof of Concept Accelerator Program with Cate Blanchett and Coco Francini. Vicki is currently the Head of Production for Pollution Studios, overseeing daily operations and post-production.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.