The 20th edition of the Zanzibar International Film Festival will provide a host of opportunities for filmmakers, and in particular African filmmakers. With new categories and prizes on offer in 2017, African filmmakers are especially encouraged to submit their films via the submission page on ZIFF website
ZIFF 2017 will award films in the following categories:
·     AFRICAN CINEMA
(Continent and Diaspora)
·     DHOW COUNTRIES
(Countries of the Indian Ocean Rim, the Arab Peninsular and Indian Ocean Islands, including Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan)
·     INTERNATIONAL
(from all over the world with particular attention to African issues and realities)
·     EAST AFRICAN FILM
·     EAST AFRICAN MUSIC VIDEO
African filmmakers are also specifically encouraged to apply for special prizes, notably the Sembene Ousmane Prize, supported by GIZ, that is open to Africans and Africans in the diaspora to enter their short films into the competition before March 31st 2017.
Each of the 3 winning films is awarded with 2,000 USD specifically earmarked to produce a new short film to be ready by ZIFF 2018. Â
Other prizes specifically for African filmmakers include:
·     Bongo Movies Awards: Popular culture films in Kiswahili
·     Emerson of Zanzibar Prize Films: Films of all genres about Zanzibar, made by or made in Zanzibar.
·     SIGNIS Awards (Best African Film and Best East African Talent Award) The SIGNIS Jury will present its Award to a film that is deemed to exemplify universal and spiritual values that enhance human dignity, justice and tolerance through the art of cinematic expression.
·     EAFF Award (European African Film Festival)
·     BEST DOCUMENTARY by an AFRICAN female Filmmaker
Additionally, ZIFF is once again partnering with Harambee Africa to promote the seventh edition of the biennial contest dedicated to professional documentary filmmakers and video clips by students under 25 years old.
Hoping to promote a more accurate image of Africa, Harambee Africa International ONLUS has launched the VII International “Communicating Africa” ​​Prize for professional reports and/or documentaries.
This international audiovisual contest aims to contribute to a more realistic view of Africa, one that reflects the existing conflicts but also shows the reasons for hope; the richness and diversity of its peoples and cultures, the unwavering commitment to development, and at the same time the needs, which are still very real. In short, to promote awareness of a continent that is a treasure for the whole world.
The deadline to participate is September 30, 2017. Registration can be done online at http://premio.harambee-africa.org/en. The prize for the winner of the “Documentaries and Reports” category is €5,000. For video clips made by students, the total prize is €1,500.
Harambee means “All together” in Swahili and summarizes the meaning of this organization. All together to accompany a continent that has much to teach the world. (www.harambee-africa.org)
Deadline for submission is 15th March 2017
For all submission and related criteria and information please visit the ZIFF section on www.ziff.or.tz. Further updates on the process can also be found onhttps://www.facebook.com/ZanzibarInternationalFilmFestival
Mail submissions and accompanying materials (by Tanzanian filmmakers) can be sent to:
ZIFF
Ngome Kongwe (Note: this is the physical address)
P.O. BOX 3032, ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA
Tél: (255) 773 411 499
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
