The Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) has announced that this year’s film festival will kick off on Friday 25 August with the screening of the Indian mega-film “Paheli” (The Riddle). The film stars Bollywood superstars Shahrukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee in a romantic comedy about the difficult choices love forces us to make.
The premiere event, which is being launched in collaboration with the Embassy of India in Harare, will be marked with entertainment and Indian cuisine. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday 22 August at 7 Arts.
ZIFF 2006 takes place from 25 August to 3 September with workshops, events and screenings of over a hundred recent films at venues that include the Libertie Cinema Complex in Avondale, ZIFFT Centre in Kensington, Zimbabwe German Society, Young Africa Skills Centre in Epworth and Chitungwiza, Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton and Amakhosi Theatre in Bulawayo.
Leading directors Darrell James Roodt (Sarafina, Yesterday) and Mweze Ngangura (La Vie Est Belle, The Governor’s New Clothes) will be on hand at this year’s Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) to premiere their latest films and to participate in a panel discussion on “The Actor’s Relationship with the Director”. The panel will take place on Saturday 2 September at the Zimbabwe German Society.
SA’s Roodt is the multi-award winning director of such hits as “Sarafina”. He became the director of the first South African film to be nominated for an Academy Award when “Yesterday” was nominated in 2005. The film has also recently been nominated for an Emmy award.
Over the year’s Roodt has developed an award-winning formula by working with a powerhouse team that includes actress Leleti Khumalo and producers Anant Singh and Helena Spring. His visit is supported by the Embassy of South Africa, and will include a premiere screening of his latest offering “Faith’s Corner,” starring Khumalo, which is screening in the Feature Competition Section.
Congolese filmmaker Ngangura is making his second appearance at ZIFF with his film “The Governor’s New Clothes”, based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale The Emperor’s New Clothes. The only thing is a€” the action takes place in modern day Africa! Ngangura has won a string of awards at numerous international festivals, and is currently based in Belgium. He often collaborates with rumba superstar Papa Wemba, who is also featured in this film, which will be screening in the Feature Competition Section at ZIFF 2006.
For more information on this and other workshops during the festival contact Isabel or Zivanai on (04) 730361 and 793502. www.ziff.co.zw
