The Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), which runs from 18 to 26 July, has announced the 16 films in competition for the 2015 Sembene Ousmane Film Prize. The selected films hail from 11 countries: USA, Brazil, Senegal, Madagascar, Ghana, Cameroon, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia and Tanzania.
“The competition has been designed to reward excellence in short film production and to encourage the production of new short films, including short documentaries,’ explained ZIFF assistant film director international, Fabrizio Colombo.
He added, “Each of the three winning films will be awarded US$2,000 specifically earmarked to produce a new short film to be ready by ZIFF 2016.’
Bernd Multhaup of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation), the co-sponsors of the prize explained, “this year the sponsors have decided to award three films to ensure that many more filmmakers are encouraged to make creative films through the Sembene Ousmane Prize. The short film genre is a powerful way to communicate serious issues without sacrificing production quality and aesthetic value.’
The three winners will need to submit their scripts and a production within four months of the award and funds will then be released. The winning three films will be screened at ZIFF 2015, and the new films screened in ZIFF 2016.
The 16 nominated films are:
Lesley by Victor Okoye Frank, USA / 15 min
O Canto da Iona by Thiago B. Mendonca, Brazil / 25 min
Maruna by Molly Kane, Senegal / 15 min
Aisaa’s Story by Iquo B Essien, USA / 15 min
Madama Esther by Luck Razanajaona, Madagascar / 15 min
The Traveller by Victoria Dogbe, Ghana / 9 min
Damaru by Agbor Obed, Cameroon / 24 min
Houkak by Younes Youfsi, Morocco / 17 min
Kwaku by Anthony Nti, Ghana / 16 min
Samaki Mchangani by Amil Shivji, Tanzania, 30 min
Kilimo 2 by Neema and Warren Reed, Tanzania / 6 min
Liberte Emprisonnee by Sara Mikayel, Senegal /16 min
Soko Sonko by Ekwa Msangi, Kenya / 22 min
Uthando by Tulanana Bohela, South Africa, 20 min
Grandma Knows Best by Tamara Dawit, Ethiopia, 16 min
Vitrin by Regis Talia, Cameroon, 15 min
Visit the ZIFF website for more information.
