Zanzibar International Film Festival Explained

Zanzibar International Film Festival
Location:Zanzibar, Tanzania
Founded:1997
Awards:Golden Dhow
Website:https://ziffestival.org/

Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), also known as Festival of the Dhow Countries, is an annual film festival held in Zanzibar, Tanzania and one of the largest cultural events in East Africa.[1] ZIFF is a non-governmental organization established in 1997 to develop and promote film and other cultural industries as catalyst for the regional social and economic growth.[2]

The film festival

The annual multidisciplinary arts and cultural festival is ZIFF’s major activity; the festival is an all-arts affair, with 8 days of local and international discussion panels, workshops, 10 days of screenings of the best local and international cinema and evenings of musical concerts including a Gala each evening. All festival programs are a culmination of the realization of the capacity of film to fuse together the best of each art-form, offering a wide range of Entertainment, Educating and Networking options for world audiences.[3]

The festival is arguably the largest multidisciplinary art and cultural festival in Africa, and continues to lead as a tourist attraction event in the region.[4] ZIFF now gives 12 International Awards presented by 5 International Juries. It is estimated that 7000 western tourists came to Zanzibar to attend the festival and the total festival audience was in excess of 100,000 with wide appeal across race, class and religions. Its impact on the economy of Zanzibar is unquestionable.[5]

The ZIFF festival now runs 15 programs over the 10 days that include:

  1. Film Competition
  2. Film Workshops
  3. Opening and Closing Nights
  4. Film Outreach Projections
  5. Women panorama
  6. Children panorama
  7. Village panorama
  8. Festival of Festivals
  9. Soko Film
  10. Art and Exhibition
  11. Children Film panorama
  12. UNICEF Life skills Camps
  13. Children Peace camps
  14. Difficult Dialogues
  15. Historical and Cultural Village Tours[6]

During the festival, films are shown in Stone Town in Zanzibar City, as well as rural Zanzibari villages.[7]

Awards

Golden Dhow winners

Year FilmDirector Country of origin
1998 [8] Martin Mhando, Ron MulvihillTanzania/United States
2000 Jinnah[9] Pakistan
2001 Bawandar (The Sand Storm)[10] India
2004 Maargam (The Path)[11] India (in Malayalam)
2005 Khakestar-o-Khak (Earth and Ashes)[12] Afghanistan
2006 L'Appel Des Arenes (Wrestling Grounds)[13] Cheikh NdiayeSenegal/Morocco/Burkina Faso/France
2007 Juju Factory[14] Democratic Republic of Congo
2008 Ezra[15] Nigeria/France
2009Jerusalema[16] Ralph ZimanSouth Africa
2010Themba[17] South Africa
2011The Rugged Priest[18] Kenya
2012UhlangaNdaba Ka NganeSouth Africa
2013Golchereh[19] Vahid Mousaia
2014Half of a Yellow SunUnited States
2015Wazi ?FMFaras CavalloKenya
2016WatatuKenya
2017Noem My SkollieSouth Africa
2018Supa Modo[20] Kenya/Germany
2019Fatwa[21] Mahmoud Ben MahmoudTunisia
2021Binti[22] Seko ShamteTanzania
2022Vuta N'Kuvute (Tug of War)Amil ShivjiTanzania
2023EoniiEddie MzaleTanzania

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-08-02 . Zanzibar Film Festival lives up to the hype . 2022-11-28 . The East African . en.
  2. Web site: Festivals - goZanzibar. 2020-10-12. www.go-zanzibar.com.
  3. Web site: Things to do in Zanzibar. 2020-10-12. CROWN CITY ACADEMY. en-US.
  4. Web site: Service Providers. 2020-10-12. www.zanzibartourism.go.tz.
  5. Web site: Vagary Safaris. 2020-10-12. www.vagarysafaris.com.
  6. Book: Pfaff , Françoise . Focus on African films . . 2004 . 277 . 0-253-21668-0 .
  7. Web site: Zanzibar festival aims to bridge ocean . . 1999-07-06 . 2009-10-24 .
  8. Web site: Maangamizi Wins . GrisGrisFilms.com . 2009-10-25 .
  9. Web site: Festival 2000 Awards Winner . Zanzibar.org . 2009-10-25 .
  10. Web site: Golden Sandstorm Blows Over Zanzibar . FilmFestivals.com . 2001-07-18 . 2009-10-25 .
  11. Web site: wa Wanjiru . Kimani . ZIFF Integrating the Region through Art and Culture . AfricanFilmNY.org . 2006-09-08 . 2009-10-25 .
  12. Web site: Festival de Zanzibar : palmarès . Africultures.com . July 2005 . 2009-10-25 .
  13. Web site: Lorey . Barbara . Setting Sail Over New Waters . Africultures.com . 2006-09-08 . 2009-10-25 .
  14. Web site: News & Events . Kenya Film Commission . 2007 . 2009-10-25 .
  15. Web site: Winning Films at ZIFF 2008 . Official ZIFF website . 2009-10-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090917103552/http://www.ziff.or.tz/winners.htm . September 17, 2009 .
  16. Web site: Zanzibar International Film Festival . Official ZIFF website . 2009-10-25 .
  17. Web site: Zanzibar International Film Festival . Official ZIFF website . 2010-07-19 .
  18. Web site: Zanzibar International Film Festival . Official ZIFF website . 2012-07-19 .
  19. Web site: Zanzibar International Film Festival. Official ZIFF website. 2015-07-30.
  20. Web site: Zanzibar International Film Festival. Official ZIFF website. 2019-01-17.
  21. Web site: Zanzibar International Film Festival. Official ZIFF website. 2022-04-25.
  22. Web site: Zanzibar International Film Festival. Official ZIFF website. 2024-03-31.