ZIFF

Zanzibar Internatinal Film Festival

INSIDE THE FESTIVAL

Zanzibar in Frames: A Story of Film, Culture & African Light

Inside the Festival

Zanzibar in Frames: A Story of Film, Culture & African Light

DHOW RACE

Tradation in motionpeople who started at the festival as volunteers when they were under 17years old…

Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), also known as Festival of the Dhow Countries.

More About ZIFF

FESTIVAL PROGRAMME 2026

24th June, 2026: OPENING DAY

No. Activity Venue Time
1 ZIFF Parade
Sponsored by ZIFF		 Old Fort → Kisonge 15:00 – 16:00
2 Opening Ceremony Main Venue 19:00 – 20:30
3 Screening: Opening Film Main Venue 20:30 – 22:32
4 After Party TBC 22:40 – Late

25th June, 2026: CREATIVE DOCUMENTARY DAY

No. Activity Venue Time
1 Press Conference Serena Hotel 09:00 – 10:00
2 Panel Discussion: AI & Creative Documentary Film Production
Sponsored by Goethe-Institut & Film Lab Zanzibar		 Serena Hotel 10:05 – 11:30
3 Documentary Screening: Molly vs The Machines (84') Serena Hotel 11:30 – 13:00
4 Lunch Break N/A 13:00 – 14:15
5 Masterclass: AI and Film Industry Ecosystem by Lissa Russell Serena Hotel 14:30 – 16:00
6 Documentary Film Screening Serena Hotel 16:10 – 18:00
7 Village Panorama
Sponsored by EU & UN Women		 Makunduchi (Unguja) & Kojani (Pemba) 19:00 – 22:00
8 Mobile Cinema
Sponsored by Nafasi Art Space		 Lebanon Brothers 19:00 – 20:00
9 Ahadi Screenings
Sponsored by Ajabu Ajabu		 Jaws Corner 19:00 – 20:00
10 Wall Is A Screen
Sponsored by Ajabu Ajabu		 Habari House 20:00 – 21:30
11 Film Screening Main Venue 19:00 – 23:00
12 Networking TBC 23:30 – Late

Alongside Events

No. Activity Venue Time
13 Children's Panorama: Storytelling Through Animation by Alpha Israel Wambugu (Kenya) Emerson on Hurumzi 10:00 – 12:30
14 Film Screening Marumaru Fountain Hall 09:30 – 18:30
15 Women Panorama: Women Dhow Race
Sponsored by EU & UN Women		 Kojani (Pemba) 13:00 – 16:00

26th June, 2026: COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRY INNOVATION DAY

No. Activity Venue Time
1 Press Conference Serena Hotel 09:00 – 09:30
2 Panel Discussion: AI in TV Commercial Production Serena Hotel 09:35 – 11:00
3 Panel Discussion: AI and Digital Content Creation Serena Hotel 11:10 – 13:00
4 Lunch Break N/A 13:00 – 14:15
5 Outdoor Events: Dhow Race & Hadzabe Cultural Experience Serena Hotel 14:30 – 16:00
6 Industry Presentation: AI and Film Screenings Serena Hotel 16:30 – 17:45
7 Village Panorama Makunduchi (Unguja) & Jumba Kubwa Wete (Pemba) 19:00 – 22:00
8 Mobile Cinema Shangani Habari House 19:00 – 20:00
9 Ahadi Screenings Lebanon Brothers 19:00 – 20:00
10 Wall Is A Screen Jaws Corner 20:00 – 21:30
11 Film Screening Main Venue 19:00 – 23:25
12 Networking TBC 23:30 – Late

Alongside Events

No. Activity Venue Time
13 Children's Panorama: Storytelling Through Animation by Alpha Israel Wambugu (Kenya) Emerson on Hurumzi 10:00 – 12:30
14 Symposium: African Cinema – Are We Truly Free? The Box 16:30 – 18:30

27th June, 2026: THE PREMIERE DAY

No. Activity Venue Time
1 Press Conference Serena Hotel 09:00 – 09:30
2 Panel Discussion: AI and East Africa Creative Economy
Sponsored by Goethe Institut & ZIFF		 Serena Hotel 09:35 – 11:00
3 Panel Discussion: AI and Film Distribution
Sponsored by Goethe Institut & ZIFF		 Serena Hotel 11:10 – 13:00
4 Lunch Break N/A 13:00 – 14:00
5 AI Film Screening & Q&A: Kilwa Kisiwani (Sultan Tamba), My Grandfather (Ali Ringo)
Sponsored by ZIFF		 Serena Hotel 14:00 – 15:00
6 Masterclass: AI and Film Distribution
Sponsored by Goethe Institut & ZIFF 		Serena Hotel 15:00 – 16:00
7 Industry Presentation: E-Sports & Opportunities for Content Creators and Filmmakers
Sponsored by E-sports Tanzania & ZIFF		 Serena Hotel 16:00 – 17:00
8 Village Panorama
Sponsored by EU & UN WOMAN		 Makunduchi (Unguja) & Basketball Court, Mkoani (Pemba) 19:00 – 22:00
9 Mobile Cinema
Sponsored by NAFASI ART SPACE		 Jaws Corner 19:00 – 20:00
10 Film Screening Main Venue 19:00 – 00:00
11 Networking TBC 00:30 – Late

Alongside Events

No. Activity Venue Time
12 Film Screening Marumaru Fountain Hall 09:30 – 18:00
13 Masterclass: AI and the Art of Subtitling Emerson on Hurumzi 10:00 – 11:30
14 Networking Session: Festival Directors Karafuu Restaurant 16:30 – 17:30
15 An Evening on the Beach with Hadza: Hadzabe Cultural Dinner Experience Livingstone Beach Restaurant 19:00 – 22:30

28th June, 2026: THE SHORTS & DRAMA SERIES MARATHON DAY

No. Activity Venue Time
1 Press Conference Emerson on Hurumzi 09:00 – 09:30
2 Film Screening: The Shorts Marathon Marumaru Fountain Hall 09:00 – 13:00
3 Film Screening: Drama Series Marathon Serena Hotel 09:00 – 12:50
4 Lunch Break N/A 13:00 – 14:00
5 Film Screening: The Shorts Marathon Marumaru Fountain Hall 14:00 – 18:30
6 Film Screening: Drama Series Marathon Serena Hotel 14:00 – 16:30
7 Awards Ceremony Main Venue 19:00 – 22:30

OFFICIAL FILM SCREENINGS 2026

24th June, 2026: WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE

MAIN VENUE

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 SMALL GODS (106') Asher Rosen Uganda 09:00 – 10:46 PM WORLD PREMIERE

25th June, 2026: THURSDAY SCHEDULE

MARUMARU HOTEL (FOUNTAIN HALL)

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 THE PEOPLE SHALL (60') Mark Maina & Nick Wambugu Kenya 09:30 – 10:35 AM N/A
2 MZUNGURUKA (THE WANDERER) (6') Guillaume Pascal Balois Zanzibar 10:35 – 10:45 AM N/A
3 AN INCOMPLETE CALENDAR (67') Sanaz Sohrabi Canada, Iran, Turkiye, Venezuela 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE
4 MOBUTU'S GAME (58') Guillaume Graux Belgium 12:00 – 13:00 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE
5 COUPLE GOALS (110') Janeth Awino Chumbe Tanzania 14:15 – 15:55 PM N/A
6 PRANK (JOKES ON YOU) (73') Besta Phiri Zambia 16:00 – 17:13 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE
7 VASARA (THE CHOSEN DAY) (74') Lekshmi Pushpa India 17:15 – 18:30 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE

PANEL DISCUSSION VENUE

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 MOLLY VS THE MACHINES (84') Marc Silver United Kingdom 11:30 AM – 13:00 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE
2 HOCKEY IN THE HEAT RT Russia 16:05 – 16:20 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE
3 HAPPINESS (18') Firat Yucel Turkiye 16:25 – 16:40 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE
4 AFTER THE ABYSS (30') Keiria Shishay Kenya & Denmark 16:45 – 17:20 PM N/A

MAIN VENUE

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 FOR GARBAGE (20') Hadi Garsuei Iran 19:00 – 19:20 PM N/A
2 LICE N' SHINE (6') Maria Byoma Uganda 19:22 – 19:28 PM N/A
3 WE ARE HADZA (83') Hannah Otsuka Tanzania & U.S.A 19:30 – 20:53 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE
4 THREE GOODBYES (120') Isabel Coixet Italy 20:55 – 22:55 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE

SHANGANI HABARI HOUSE & JAW'S CORNER

No. Film Title Curator Country Timing Organized By
1 ANGANI, AHADI ZATUPOTEA (series) Jesse Gerard & Cindy Sissokho Tanzania & France 19:00 – 21:00 PM Ajabu Ajabu in Partnership with Wall is a Screen

LEBANON BROTHERS

No. Film Title Curator Country Timing Organized By
1 NAFASI ART SPACE (Series) Nafasi Film Club Tanzania 19:00 – 20:00 PM Nafasi Art Space

MAKUNDUCHI VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 A WALK ALONG THE BORNE (112') Nick Igea Spain 19:00 – 21:00 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE

KOJANI ISLAND

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 THE UNTOLD STORY (120') Monica Guerritore Italy 19:00 – 21:00 PM N/A

26th June, 2026: FRIDAY SCHEDULE

MARUMARU HOTEL (FOUNTAIN HALL)

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 NISAMEHE BABA (92') Abdul Mustafa Sheweji Zanzibar 09:35 – 11:10 AM AFRICAN PREMIERE
2 ABOUT MY MOM (94') Soner Sert Turkiye 11:10 AM – 12:45 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE
3 MY GRANDMOTHER IS A SKYDIVER (10') Polina Piddumna Germany 12:45 – 13:00 PM EAST AFRICA PREMIERE
4 MY FATHER & QADDAFI (88') Jihan K Libya & United States 14:15 – 15:45 PM EAST AFRICA PREMIERE
5 CASA EN FLAMES (120') Dani de la Orden Spain 15:50 – 17:50 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE

MAIN VENUE

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 OUT OF SCHOOL (68') Hindi Bensari Morocco 19:00 – 20:10 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE
2 AN OPEN FIELD (39') Teboho Edkins France, Germany, South Africa 20:10 – 20:50 PM EAST AFRICA PREMIERE
3 CHINHOYI 7 (105') Moses Matanda Zimbabwe 20:50 – 22:35 PM EAST AFRICA PREMIERE
4 SHE POEMS (50') Aida Colmenero African Countries 22:35 – 23:25 PM FILM SCREENING & PERFORMANCE

SHANGANI HABARI HOUSE

No. Film Title Curator Country Timing Organized By
1 NAFASI ART SPACE (Series) Nafasi Film Club Tanzania 19:00 – 20:00 PM Nafasi Art Space

JAWS CORNER & LEBANON BROTHERS

No. Film Title Curator Country Timing Organized By
1 ANGANI, AHADI ZATUPOTEA (series) Jesse Gerard & Cindy Sissokho Tanzania & France 19:00 – 21:00 PM Ajabu Ajabu in Partnership with Wall is a Screen

MAKUNDUCHI VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 CLASS MATES (95') Anna Ferzetti Italy 19:00 – 20:35 PM N/A
2 NISAMEHE BABA (92') Abdul Mustafa Sheweji Zanzibar 20:40 – 22:15 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE

JUMBA KUBWA (WETE) PEMBA ISLAND

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 NISAMEHE BABA (92') Abdul Mustafa Sheweji Zanzibar 19:00 – 20:35 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE
2 GADAR 2 (120') Anil Sharma India 20:40 – 22:40 PM N/A

27th June, 2026: SATURDAY SCHEDULE

MARUMARU HOTEL (FOUNTAIN HALL)

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 THE EYES OF GHANA (90') Ben Proudfoot Ghana & United Kingdom 09:35 – 11:10 AM N/A
2 BOBO (112') Maurice Muendo Kenya 11:15 AM – 13:10 PM N/A
3 LONGING TO BELONG (100') Mariam Ndagire Kizito Uganda 14:15 – 15:55 PM N/A
4 GOD'S WORK (120') Michael James South Africa 16:00 – 18:00 PM EAST AFRICA PREMIERE

MAIN VENUE

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 KIKUYU LAND (90') Bea Wangondu Kenya 19:00 – 20:30 PM N/A
2 AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY (90') Morad Mostafa Egypt 20:30 – 22:00 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE
3 A LAND APART (120') Bem Pever Nigeria 22:00 PM – 00:00 AM WORLD PREMIERE

JAWS CORNER

No. Film Title Curator Country Timing Organized By
1 NAFASI ART SPACE (Series) Nafasi Film Club Tanzania 19:00 – 20:00 PM Nafasi Art Space

MAKUNDUCHI VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 PRINCESS MKATU (107') Denis Junior Uganda 19:00 – 20:50 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE
2 MY BOYFRIEND, A MANNEQUIN (80') Dmitry Nikolenko Russian Federation 21:00 – 22:20 PM N/A

BASKETBALL COURT (MKOANI) PEMBA

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 PRINCESS MKATU (107') Denis Junior Uganda 19:00 – 20:50 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE
2 GREEN FAMILY (96') Giambattista Avellino Italy 20:50 – 22:30 PM N/A

28th June, 2026: SUNDAY

MARUMARU HOTEL (FOUNTAIN HALL) - THE SHORTS MARATHON

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 BAABA (10') Selemani Abdallah Tanzania 09:00 – 09:12 PM AFRICAN PREMIERE
2 HON. GETRUDE MONGELLA (20') Dennis Mchanga Tanzania 09:12 – 09:32 PM WORLD PREMIERE
3 LAST TAX TO KAWEMPE (24') Walta Gabriel Busulwa Uganda 09:34 – 09:54 AM N/A
4 GOAT (29') Judith Kibinge Kenya 09:56 – 10:26 AM N/A
5 ELDA (30') Deselegn Baraki Ethiopia 10:28 – 10:58 AM N/A
6 OH! SH*T! IT'S MY BIRTHDAY (29') Mathew Valerian Tanzania 11:00 – 11:30 AM N/A
7 GOD SLEEPS ON SUNDAYS (17') Naishe Nyamubaya Zimbabwe 11:30 – 11:48 AM N/A
8 AMAZEZE (FLEAS) (16') Jordy Sank South Africa 11:48 AM – 12:05 PM N/A
9 OUR BROTHER (15') Shandra Apondi Kenya 12:05 – 12:20 PM N/A
10 KNOCKING AT THE GATES OF HEAVEN (9') Faith Riyano Italy & South Africa 12:20 – 12:30 PM N/A
11 ELEDA AYANMO (20') Ifeoma Esther Ojukwu Nigeria 12:30 – 12:42 PM N/A
12 PEEK (7') Florence Mwendapole Tanzania 12:43 – 13:00 PM N/A
13 BEHIND A LIE (25') Juliet Ibrahim Ghana 14:00 – 14:27 PM N/A
14 GUHAADO (24') Mahad Qalax Somalia 14:27 – 14:50 PM N/A
15 AICHA (26') Sanaa El Alaqui Morocco & Poland 14:50 – 15:18 PM N/A
16 EMBE DODO (12') Kelvin Kagambo Tanzania 15:18 – 15:30 PM N/A
17 EMANYA (29') Laudika Hamutenya Namibia 15:30 – 16:00 PM N/A
18 THE SPACE BESIDES ME (34') Lubega Rajab Uganda 16:00 – 16:35 PM N/A
19 ECHOES BENEATH THE HILL (18') Aime Octave Belgium & Rwanda 16:35 – 16:54 PM N/A
20 TWISTED (18') Ntale Christopher Uganda 16:54 – 17:14 PM N/A
21 WHITE FLAG (15') Perviz Rostemi Iran 17:14 – 17:30 PM N/A
22 THE SWAP (15') Sally Ngoiri Kenya 17:30 – 17:42 PM N/A
23 COURT ORDER (18') Dinkar Sharma India 17:42 – 18:00 PM N/A
24 ZOLLA (30') Victoria Neto France 18:00 – 18:30 PM N/A

PANEL DISCUSSION VENUE - THE SERIES MARATHON

No. Film Title Director Country Timing Status
1 MIZANI (SCALE) (60') Mdagaya Eric Kenya 09:00 – 10:05 AM N/A
2 NOMA (26') Khaleed Mfundo Tanzania 10:05 – 10:32 AM N/A
3 SHABAKADDA SEASON 2 (37') Victor Gotanye Somalia 10:32 – 11:00 AM N/A
4 KASH MONEY SEASON 1 (30') Grace Kahaki & Philippe Bresson Kenya 11:00 – 11:32 AM N/A
5 NYOTA (53') Devotha Mussa Mayungu Tanzania 11:32 AM – 12:25 PM N/A
6 LAZIZI (25') Reuben Odanga Kenya 12:25 – 12:50 PM N/A
7 ADAM TO EVE (32') Alexandros Konstantaras Kenya 14:00 – 14:35 PM N/A
8 LOVING BEYOND (35') Marvin Rain Ssentongo Uganda 14:35 – 15:12 PM N/A
9 CILAAJ (42') Abdulkadir (Ato) Mohammed Somalia 15:13 – 15:55 PM N/A
10 SINGLE KIASI SEASON 4 (30') Grace Kahaki & Philippe Bresson Kenya 15:55 – 16:30 PM N/A
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