Submission Information & Procedure-Entry Deadline 1st April
About Ziff
The Zanzibar International Film Festival is the largest multi disciplinary art and cultural festival in Africa dedicated to the exhibition of films, music, Panorama. Each year ZIFF exhibits more than 150 films made in Africa, Middle East, Europe, Latin America, USA and Asia. 60 of those films are selected for competition. In 2009, 200,000+ people from both the Industry and the public attended ZIFF. The 13th Annual ZIFF will take place 10th –18th July, 2010 in Stone town, Zanzibar. The theme of the Festival is HOPES IN HARMONY.
Workshops
ZIFF is the largest meeting of film and cultural workers in East, Central and Southern Africa. We offer a number of Workshops, Forums and Exhibition featuring the world known artists, scholars and researchers and authors. Invitations are often made to participating filmmakers to attend the festival at ZIFF’s expense but the priority goers to African filmmakers.
Creativity Guaranteed
ZIFF seeks to provide opportunity for filmmakers around the world by showcasing their works. ZIFF offers a meeting and networking space for young and upcoming film makers as we strongly believe in showcasing new voices in film.
Eligibility
The Zanzibar International Film Festival is currently accepting applications for all African films and films from the Dhow Countries region- South East Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, The Persian Gulf, Iran, Pakistan, and the Indian Ocean Islands. Films must be directed by an African or from a Dhow country and produced after 2007. ZIFF reserves the right to accept any films with a specific interest to the festival. Films should preferably depict the Festival theme; HOPES IN HARMONY. Films on this theme will be given priority and we encourage filmmakers to submit works in any genre, in features, documentaries, short films, animation and music videos. We will accept submissions of works in progress; however, films must be completed no later than May 15, 2010.
Competition
The main competition (the Golden Dhow and Silver Dhow) is only for filmmakers from the Dhow countries. These include Countries of the Indian Ocean Rim and Indian Ocean Islands, including Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan; All African countries.
ZIFF competition categories are: Best Feature films, Documentary, Short/Animation, East African Films, and The ZIFF Board will offer the following Awards: Chairperson’s Award and Lifetime Achievement, Other competitions are open to the specified categories of entries.
The festival official film selection includes the following sections:
- Official competition: This section is reserved for feature and short films, fictional or documentary films shot on film or DV, by African AND Dhow Country directors.
- Documentary section: This Section is Open to all countries in all formats and genres.
- Sembene Ousmane Development Films Competition: This section is open to video films by African directors, African Diaspora AND partner producers.
- Verona African Film Award: The best African feature film in the festival awarded by Verona African Film Festival
With the exception of Lifetime Achievement Award, all films are judged by independent jury panels.
The Juries
- The official ZIFF jury for Dhow films is an international jury composed five (5) members at the most.
- There will also be other 3 Juries composed of not more than 5 members
- No jury member must be involved in the direction, production or distribution of a competing film.
- A certificate of participation is issued to all winning films.
- The official prize list of ZIFF is as follows:
The Prize List
In acknowledgement of the great role that films play in contemporary society ZIFF offers a total of 13 Prizes during the festival. Awards are a measure of value that the industry accords and offers filmmakers as acknowledgement of their creativity, innovation and status.
The ZIFF Jury will offer the Dhow Awards in the following Categories:
- Feature films
- Documentary
- Short/Animation
- East African Films
The ZIFF Board will offer the following Awards:
- Chairperson’s Award
The SIGNIS Jury will present its Award to a film that is deemed to exemplify universal and spiritual values that enhance human dignity, justice and tolerance through the artistic application of cinematic expression.
UNICEF will present a “UNICEF Children’s and Human Rights” Award for the best film that expresses issues of children.
The ZIFF/SACOD/GTZ partners will present the Sembene Ousmane Film Prize ($5000) to the best Development Film in competition directed by an African national or in partnership.
THE VERONA JURY AWARD: Awarded to a film deemed the best African feature film in competition.
Submission Procedures:
- Entry is Free.
- A signed and fully completed application with publicity materials must be submitted with a DVD. To be eligible for programming, the entire application MUST be completed and signed. The submission deadline is 30th April 2010.
- Completed Entry Form;
- Press kit including technical and artistic data, synopsis in English, photographs, posters, press articles, etc.,
- 2 DVDs of the film for selection + jury purposes
- Bio-data of the director
- Mail submissions and accompanying materials to:
ZIFF:
Ngome Kongwe ( Note: this is the physical address)
P.O. BOX 3032, ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA
Tél: (255) 777 411 499
Fax: (255) 777 419 955
Email: filmdept@ziff.or.tz
Please include synopsis, posters, photographs, director's bio-data and 2 DVDs
- Freight costs of selected films must be paid by the producer. ZIFF will not be responsible for cassettes or DVD’s lost or damaged in the mail. Further, ZIFF cannot be held responsible for damages resulting from initial poor condition of DVDs
- If you desire confirmation that ZIFF has received your entry, please include a self-address stamped postcard.
- Selection results will be available, beginning May 30, 2010. on the Website: www.ziff.or.tz Please check website
- Any film at ZIFF may have five (5) public screenings at the most, including one press showing. However, other screenings could be organized if the producer so agrees.
- Return of films will be at the cost of the Producers.
