Amil Shivji Explained

Amil Shivji
Father:	Issa Shivji
Education:	Master of Fine Arts (MFA), York University, Canada
Occupation:	Filmmaker
Notable Works:	Tug of War (Vuta N'Kuvute) (2021) T-Junction (2013)
Awards:	Tanit d'or, Carthage Film Festival, 2022

Amil Shivji (born 1990) is a Tanzanian filmmaker. His films generally tackle misrepresentations of Africa and its history, as well as the theme of neocolonialism.

Biography and career

Born in Dar es Salaam, Shivi's roots can be traced back to Zanzibar. Often visiting as a child, he frequently draws inspiration from the island. Before launching his film career, Shivji worked as a journalist and radio host.^{[1] [2]} He is the founder of Kijiweni Productions, a production company, and Kijiweni Cinema.^[3]

Shivji launched his career with two short fiction films, Shoeshine (2013) and Samaki Mchangani (2014).^[4] Both films participated in a number of international film festivals including the Rotterdam International Film Festival and the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) in Burkina Faso.^[5]

In 2015, he produced feature film Aisha, also screened internationally. The filmmaker's prize-winning feature directorial debut T-Junction (2017) opened the prestigious Zanzibar International Film Festival. In 2021, he released Vuta N’Kuvute (Tug of War), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.^{[6] [7]}

Filmography

Short films

• 2012: Who Killed Me
• 2013: Shoeshine
• 2014: Samaki Mchangani

Feature films

• 2015: Aisha (as producer)
• 2017: T-Junction
• 2021: Vuta N’Kuvute (Tug of War)^[8]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Amil Shivji (T-Junction). 2021-11-21. Atlanta Film Festival. en-US. 2021-11-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20211121212101/https://www.atlantafilmfestival.com/amil-shivji. dead.
2. Web site: Amil Shivji IFFR. 2021-11-21. iffr.com.
3. Web site: Amil Shivji (T-Junction). 2021-11-21. Atlanta Film Festival. en-US. 2021-11-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20211121212101/https://www.atlantafilmfestival.com/amil-shivji. dead.
4. Web site: Films from Africa: Personen-Details. 2021-11-21. www.filme-aus-afrika.de. 2021-11-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20211121193840/http://www.filme-aus-afrika.de/EN/film-database/persons/personen-details/w/2921/. dead.
5. Web site: Tug of War. 2021-11-21. Doha Film Institute. en-US.
6. Web site: Tug of War. 2021-11-21. TIFF. en.
7. Web site: Vourlias. Christopher. 2021-09-12. Tanzania's Amil Shivji on Love and Resistance in Toronto Film Festival Period Drama 'Tug of War'. 2021-11-21. Variety. en-US.
8. Web site: 2021-09-27. Tanzanian Filmmaker Amil Shiviji is Making History with a Story of Love and Resistance. 2021-11-21. OkayAfrica. en.