Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) is ready for its 2016 edition, taking place from 9 to 17 July across Stone Town, Zanzibar, with a host of film screenings, workshops, exhibitions, performances and more.
This year ZIFF’s theme “This Journey of Ours’ sees the festival welcome special guests and filmmakers from around the world. One of ZIFF’s chief guests for 2016 is Bollywood producer Kunal Kapoor.
Kapoor will be attending ZIFF based on the support of The Zanzibar Tourism Promotion Centre (Z.T.P.C) in India that was set up in March 2015 under the presidential initiative and vision between the Ministry of Information, Culture, Tourism and Sports – government of Zanzibar and The Zanzibar Commission for Tourism and JHIL Enterprises – Mumbai, India.
Film screenings at ZIFF will take place at three main venues, The Old Fort Amphitheatre for evening screenings, The Maru Maru Hotel and the Double Tree by Hilton Conference Centre.
With a record 490 films submitted from 32 countries, this year’s competition promises to be the most exciting to date.
More than 80 films will compete in five different jury categories; 59 General Competition, 15 Sembene Ousmane; 15 Bongo movies; and six films in this year’s newest jury category, The Emerson of Zanzibar Award, recognising films about Zanzibar’s culture and history.
A competition for Music Video production will also take place this year with videos nominated for competition to be revealed on 7 July during the plenary sessions of ZIFF in the Old Fort Amphitheatre.
ZIFF 2016 will also be hosting more than 30 filmmakers from across Africa and the globe including Nigerian director of Gbomo Gbomo Express Walter Taylaur, South African filmmaker Davison Mudzwinga (Lost Tongue), as well as the South African director of the opening night film Kalushi, Mandla Dube.
Guests from further afield include Bermuda’s Michelle Baiyina Khaldun and India’s Payal Sethi and Varun Tandon.
Exhibitions:
NAFASI Exhibition presented by ACRA
9 to 17 July at Forodhani Gardens
Artist in residency programme and exhibition in partnership with NAFASI Art Space.
Through The Swahili Lens
9 to 17 July at Africa House
This photography exhibition of photos by students of the State University of Zanzibar will be on exhibit and for sale throughout the festival.
Children’s Panorama
9 to 17 July in selected schools in Stone Town
In collaboration with the Danish Film Institute of Denmark and Salaam Film and Dialogue Festival, ZIFF presents an integrated film and children’s programme including facilitated discussions.
For special events, workshops and other programme information, visit the ZIFF website.
