FILM SUBMISSIONS FOR ZIFF 2016 ARE NOW OPEN
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ZIFF is excited to announce that the submission for films for the 2016 edition of ZIFF is now open. Festival Director Prof Martin Mhando has confirmed that despite the fears that the two major festivals of Zanzibar will be cancelled next year, ZIFF 2016 will be holding its 19th edition from July 9th – 17th 2016.
Following the announcement of the cancellation of the Sauti ya Busara music festival for 2016, many had feared ZIFF would follow suit at an attempt to encourage more government support of the two major festivals of the isles that dominate the cultural scene in Zanzibar.
The Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) is the largest multi-disciplinary art and cultural festival in East Africa dedicated to the exhibition of films, music and artistic panoramas.
Each year ZIFF exhibits more than 60 films made in Africa, Middle East, Europe, Latin America, USA and Asia. The 19th Edition of ZIFF will take place 9th -17th July, 2016 in Stone Town, Zanzibar.
The theme of the 2016 Festival is This Journey of Ours. This Journey of Ours: Ndiyo hii Safari Yetu. Festival Director Martin Mhando explains the theme further;
“This simple theme is yet complex in its implications. Any journey is symbolic of life, with its trials and tribulations, its highs and lows and with its destinations that change with time. On the road of life the journey transforms us through its bends and long stretches making speed a companion of ours like the shadow.
Many journeys portend destinations but destinations do not define journeys for every trip of our lifetime teaches us perseverance, patience and inspires motivations. And however easy or tough the journey might have been, destinations often inspire new journeys.”
The main competition for the Golden Dhow and Silver Dhow awards is open exclusively for filmmakers from the Dhow countries. These include Countries of the Indian Ocean Rim and Indian Ocean Islands, including Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan; and all African countries. The Sembene Ousmane Award Competition is only for African and Diaspora filmmakers and partner producers.
ZIFF Official Competition 2016
ZIFF welcomes submissions of feature and short films, fiction, documentary and animation films, with a particular focus on films produced by African and Dhow Country directors. The deadline for submission of films is 29th February 2016.
Online submissions from Tanzania are FREE, as well as for Music Videos from East Africa.
Films can be entered in a range of categories.
Documentaries:
Open to all countries in all formats
Open to all countries in all formats
Feature Films:
Open to all countries in all formats
Films on Development:
Open to films by Africans, African Diaspora and partner producers.
Music Video:
This new catefory is dedicated to outstanding and creative production for music video from East Africa.
Short Films:
Films on Development:
Open to films by Africans, African Diaspora and partner producers.
Music Video:
This new catefory is dedicated to outstanding and creative production for music video from East Africa.
Short Films:
Open to all countries in all formats
Animation:
Open to all countries in all formats
All films are judged by an independent jury panel.
ZIFF 2016 Awards
The ZIFF Jury will offer the Dhow Awards in the following categories:
FEATURE FILMS
DOCUMENTARY
SHORT FILMS
ANIMATION
DHOW COUNTRIES
EAST AFRICAN FILMS
VIDEO MUSIC from EAST AFRICA
DOCUMENTARY
SHORT FILMS
ANIMATION
DHOW COUNTRIES
EAST AFRICAN FILMS
VIDEO MUSIC from EAST AFRICA
Other Awards ZIFF 2016
· The Bi Kidude Chairman’s Award
· SIGNIS East African Talent Award and SIGNIS Award
· SEMBENE OUSMANE PRIZE FOR DEVELOPMENT FILMS for the 3 best short films.
· EUROPEAN AFRICAN FESTIVAL NETWORK AWARD: best African feature film.
· ZUKU SWAHILI AWARDS to Bongo Films in Competition.
· The Emerson’s Zanzibar Foundation Best Film on Zanzibar Award
· AUDIENCE AWARD
Submission Information
Submissions for ZIFF 2016 should be done via our online platform: All rules and submission details can be found on this platform.
You can also visit www.ziff.or.tz for more information, or via www.facebook.com/
Contacts:
Ngome Kongwe , Mizingani Road, P.O. BOX 3032, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Deadline Feb 29 2016
ABOUT ZIFF
The Zanzibar International Film Festival is the longest running film-festival in East Africa, with global credibility and instant Pan-African recognition.
The ZIFF Festival of the Dhow Countries is organized by ZIFF, a non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1998 in Zanzibar to promote and showcase the culture of the Dhow Countries. Every cent raised from sponsors and donors ensures the widest possible accessibility of high- quality international screenings and cultural events to all sections of the Tanzanian population.
The ZIFF Festival of the Dhow Countries is a catalyst for the promotion and development of the region’s cultural industries. It encourages and supports the development of artistic skills and the infrastructure necessary for a vibrant and innovative arts environment.
The festival programme gives particular prominence to the visibility and interests of women and children, including the youth.
The main panorama features international film and video screenings, and international retrospectives along with music and performances, main stage events, exhibitions, workshops and seminars.