Press Information
What is ZIFF?
The Zanzibar International Film Festival, now in its 15th year and the largest of its kind in East Africa, is renowned the world over for putting African film, music, art and design at the forefront of the international scene.
When & Where?
July 7th-15th 2012
Main events are in Stone Town, Zanzibar, with some events on Pemba Island and mainland Tanzania.
Key Facts & Figures in 2011
- Audience in Stone Town: 55,000
- Audience in Zanzibar and Tanzania mainland: 150,000
- Foreign visitors: 7,000
- Countries represented: 43
More on ZIFF
The Zanzibar International Film Festival is the biggest cultural event of its kind in East Africa. Now in its 15th year, ZIFF is a Zanzibari institution that focusses on African film while also celebrating the rich variety of culture from the region and beyond. “Tamasha,” (Kiswahili for "festival") is a truly African cultural experience with locals, tourists and film buffs all converging to watch the shows and soak up the atmosphere.
The enchanting port of Stone Town is the Festival’s main venue in Zanzibar and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Films and concerts are held in an outdoor amphitheatre in the Old Fort which dates back to the 1600s. Films and exhibitions are also shown in other listed buildings around Stone Town such as former royal palace, The Africa House, and ceremonial palace, The House of Wonders.
The 2012 Festival theme is "Global Images Meet in Zanzibar".
FILM
Every year ZIFF brings together thousands of people from the local community and international and African filmmakers and enthusiasts to celebrate African film at it finest. Over the years ZIFF has made a name for itself by showcasing some of the most captivating and cutting edge cinema from Africa and beyond. ZIFF shows films by the big guns (and has had Hollywood actor Danny Glover and African legends, Ntare Mwine and Malic Bowens attend as special guests). Music stars like Shaggy have also performed at ZIFF as ZIFF also promotes the arts and encourages emerging talent and socially oriented programs with dedicated special screenings and awards.
CULTURE
Although primarily a film festival, ZIFF believes in blue sky thinking and so in this vein the schedule is packed full with an impressive selection of live music shows, local art exhibitions, and literary events.
COMMUNITY
Community involvement and development has always been integral to ZIFF. Community events are organised under the banner of Panoramas where ZIFF performs its advocacy role.The mobile screenings on the archipelago afford a unique opportunity to watch international and African films.
The Women Panorama is a longstanding event which holds workshops and film screenings to facilitate discussion of social practices and legal rights issues pertinent to women.
In collaboration with the Danish Film Institute ZIFF also presents a programme aimed to promote and encourage access and understanding of filmmaking to children from the local community.
INDUSTRY
ZIFF is a key industry event for the movers and shakers of the world cinema community. By hosting networking, distribution, promotion and marketing forums, ZIFF promotes international and pan-African filmmaking links and strengthens the film industry in the developing world.
The Festival Forum brings over 50 film directors from Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and Brazil. The aim of the forum is to highlight the role festivals play in Africa’s development. Cutural institutions are welcome to sponsor the Forums.
ZIFF 2012 Social Media
Follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ZanzibarIFF
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ZanzibarInternationalFilmFestival?ref=ts
For more information
For press and media enquiries contact press@ziff.or.tz
For more information about ZIFF visit www.ZIFF.or.tz
For Zanzibar Festival Tours visit www.zanzibarfestivaltours.com
For more information on Zanzibar visit http://www.zanzibartourism.net
For more information about Tanzania visit www.tanzaniatouristboard.com