The Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) is pleased to announce the official selection of films in competition for 2018. The festival will take place in various venues in and around Stone Town Zanzibar From July 7th – 15th 2018.
This year saw a record number of entries across all categories with over 4,000 film submitted across the various entry platforms. This year also saw a marked increase in the amount of documentaries submitted, with over 800 being entered for consideration. With nearly 400 features being submitted, and over 2,400 short films also being submitted, the selection process for 2018 was extremely difficult.
Entries were also received From all over the world with submissions coming From over 140 countries, with the USA and India leading the number of submissions. East African filmmakers have also shown amazing interest in ZIFF with Ugandan filmmakers submitting 55 films, 54 From Kenya, and From Tanzania 31 films were entered.
The films in selection cross a broad spectrum of topics and genres and represent over 40 countries with a strong African representation. Films in competition hail From countries including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda South Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Western Sahara, Niger, Iran, The United States, France, Ghana, Belgium, Tunisa, Swaziland, India, United Kingdom and many more.
Festival Director Fabrizio Colombo had this to say of the selection process and the final line-up, “The sheer number of film submissions for ZIFF 2018 was a surprise. It is rewarding to see how much our Festival is growing and is attracting so many filmmakers around the world, but especially From our continent. We tried to stick close to our theme for this year, celebrating the courage of many filmmakers who are telling the truth and speaking out for positive change in this world. Surely, some films selected will shake the power systems and old mentalities and that is what cinema is all about, challenging perceptions and imagining a different world.
Finally, I’m glad to see the potentiality of the cinema industry in East Africa being actualised, and I have to mention particularly the creativity of young Tanzanian filmmakers that through their short films, are truly showing the new wave of cinema in Tanzania. We invite all cinema lovers to join us this year in Zanzibar!”
The official selection for Best Web, TV, and Student films will also be announced shortly. For more information please visit www.ziff.or.tz
OFFICIAL SELECTION ZIFF 2018
| FEATURE FILMS | COUNTRY | CATEGORY | DIRECTORS |
| 18 HOURS | Kenya | Golden Dhow ZIFF | NJUE KEVIN |
| BAHASHA | Tanzania | Golden Dhow ZIFF | JOHN RIBER/JORDAN RIBER |
| BALON | Italy/Sierra Leone | Golden Dhow International | PASQUALE SCIMECA |
| DAYS OF NIGHT | Tanzania | Golden Dhow Swahili Movies | NILESH BHATT |
| FATUMA | Tanzania | Golden Dhow Swahili Movies | JORDAN RIBER |
| GOLNESA | Iran, Islamic Republic of | Golden Dhow – Dhow Cultures | SATTAR CHAMANI GOL |
| HAKKUNDE | Nigeria | Golden Dhow ZIFF | ASURF OLUSEYI |
| KASALA | Nigeria | Golden Dhow ZIFF | EMA EDOSIO |
| LIYANA | Swaziland | Golden Dhow ZIFF | AARON KOPP |
| LOVE AND SHUKLA | India | Golden Dhow – Dhow Culture | JATLA SIDDARTHA |
| MAJAN | Iran | Golden Dhow – Dhow Cultures | MOHAMMAD ALADPOUSH |
| SAFARI | Tanzania | Golden Dhow ZIFF | FREDDY FERUZI |
| SEGERE | Tanzania | Golden Dhow ZIFF | TAKURA MAURAYI |
| SUPA MODO | Kenya | Golden Dhow ZIFF | LIKARION WAINAINA |
| THE CUT | Kenya | Golden Dhow ZIFF | PETER WANGUGI GITAU |
| THE DESERT VOICES | Morocco | Golden Dhow ZIFF | DAOUD AOULAD-SYAD |
| THE FORBIDDEN | Uganda | Golden Dhow ZIFF | KIZITO SAMUEL SAVIOUR |
| THE GREAT MUSE | Saudi Arabia | Golden Dhow International | BENTLEY BROWN |
| THE WEDDING RING | Niger | Golden Dhow ZIFF | RAHMATOU KEITA |
| WHEN I BECOME A BUTTERFLY | Iran | Golden Dhow – Dhow Cultures | ARASH ZAARE |
| DOCUMENTARY FILMS | |||
| 3 STOLEN CAMERAS | Western Sahara | Doc International | RÅFILM, EQUIPE MEDIA |
| A MEMORY IN THREE ACTS | Mozambique | Doc | INADELSO COSSA |
| AFIA ATTACK: TRADING BEHIND ENEMY LINE | Nigeria | Doc | UJUAKU AKUKWE |
| BIRDS | Algeria | Doc | BERKRI SALIMA LOUISA |
| BURKINABÈ RISING: THE ART OF RESISTANCE IN BURKINA FASO | Burkina Faso | Doc International | LARA LEE |
| CHILDREN OF DRUM: THE LEGACY OF BLACK JOURNALISTS IN APARTHEID-ERA SOUTH AFRICA | USA/SA/SPAIN | Doc International | LARRY TUNG |
| COMMON THREADS-FABRICS FROM INDIA FOR AFRICA | India | Dhow Cultures | RENU MODI |
| DANCEDANCE/RE♦VOLUTION | South Africa | Doc | MARK FREEMAN |
| EFFATA ROAD | Italy | Doc International | |
| FEARLESS | United States | Doc International | JASMINE CANNON, BRANDEN HAMPTON, YINGXU JANE HAO |
| GHANA FOR ME | Belgium/Ghana | Doc | ADAM MENSAH |
| I AM SHERIFF | South Africa | Doc | TEBOHO EDKINS |
| IN THE NAME OF YOUR DAUGHTER | Canada/Tanzania | Doc International | GISELLE PORTENIER |
| KIMPA VITA: THE MOTHER OF THE AFRICAN REVOLUTION | DRC/Angola | Doc | NE KUNDA NLABA |
| KINSHASA MAKAMBO | DRC | Doc | DIEUDO HAMADI |
| MAKING ENDS MEET | Zimbabwe | Doc | THOMAS MUZIYIRWA |
| NEW MOON | Kenya | Doc | PHILIPPA NDISI-HERRMANN |
| NICE VERY NICE | Algeria | Doc | EL KHEYER ZIDANI |
| OWINO | Spain/Kenya | Doc International | JAVIER MARÍN, YUSUF RAZZAQUE |
| POETRY IS MY RIFLE | Brazil | Doc International | FERNANDO SALINAS, VICTOR HUGO LIPORAGE |
| SILAS: NO MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL | Liberia/Kenya/USA | Doc | HAWA ESSUMAN |
| SING IT LOUD – LUTHERS HEIRS IN TANZANIA | Germany | Doc International | JULIA IRENE PETERS, CO DIRECTOR: JUTTA FEIT |
| SKULLS | South Africa/Germany/Namibia | Doc | VINCENT MOLOI |
| THE FLESH BUSINESS | Kenya | Doc | DENIS WANJOHI MAINA |
| VIVRE RICHE | France/Ivory Coast | Doc | JOËL AKAFOU |
| VOODOO | USA | Doc | DJIMON HOUNSOU |
| WAHENGA (THE ANCESTORS) | Tanzania | Doc | AMIL ISSA SHIVJI, REBECCA COREY |
| WHO AM I | Kenya | Doc | NICK REDING, WANURI KAHIU |
| YOUR MUSIC YOUR VOICE | Uganda | Doc | EDMOND TAMALE |
| ZONE-III (3) | Central African Republic | Doc International | PASCALE SERRA |
| SHORT FILMS | |||
| 15MINUTES | DRC | Short | SADY |
| AL SHEIKH NOEL | Iraq | Dhow Culture | SAAD AL-ESSAMY |
| ANTANANARIVO | Madagascar | Short | HAMINIAINA RATOVOARIVONY |
| ARE YOU VOLLEYBALL?! | Iran | Dhow Culture | MOHAMMAD BAKHSHI |
| ARMSTRONG | Nigeria | Short | OMORUYI IRABOR |
| AYA | Tunisia | Short | MOUFIDA FEDHILA |
| BLIND DATE | South Africa | Short | FANYANA HLABANGANE |
| BOXED | Kenya/USA | Short | WANJIRU NJENDU |
| BROKEN DREAM | Tanzania | Short | FRANCIS NYERERE |
| CALLING THE STARS | Ethiopia | Short | ADANECH ADMASSU |
| CLENCH – LIFE OF A CREATIVE | Kenya | Short | MARK AYABEI |
| FIGURE | United Kingdom | International | LANRE MALAOLU |
| FORGIVE ME, FATHER | United Kingdom | Short | DOREEN NASIMBWA |
| HATIA | Tanzania | Short | CHRISTINA PANDE |
| HATUA KWA HATUA/STEP BY STEP | Tanzania | Short International | JUDITH |
| I KNOW YOU DON’T | India | Dhow Culture | VISHAL ASHOK JAISWAL |
| ICYASHA | Rwanda | Short | CLEMENTINE DUSABEJAMBO |
| IMARA | Kenya/Rwanda | Short | SAMUEL WANJOHI |
| IMFURA | Switzerland/Rwanda | Short | SAMUEL ISHIMWE |
| IN MY FATHER’S VILLAGE | Zimbabwe | Short | TAPIWA KAPUYA |
| KANIAMA SHOW | Belgium | Short | BALOJI TSHIANI |
| KUNCUP | Indonesia | Dhow Culture | M. MYRDAL MUDA |
| KYENVU | Uganda | Short | KEMIYONDO COUTINHO |
| LEAH | Tanzania | Short | ESTHER MNDEME |
| LES CORDES DU DESTIN/DESTINY’S STRINGS | Morocco | Short | LAMIA BENGELLOUN |
| MMA MOEKETSI | South Africa | Short | RAE MOETI |
| MY CHILDREN | Tanzania | Short | LOUIS SHOO |
| MZAZI RAFIKI | Tanzania | Short | YAKI BOZI |
| NEOPHOBIA | Kenya | Short | MARK MAINA |
| NJITI | Tanzania | Short | DORICE MOLLEL |
| NOMFUNDO | South Africa | Short | SIHLE HLOPHE |
| PENDO | Kenya | Short | FAITH MUSEMBI |
| RAAT (NIGHT) | Pakistan | Dhow Culture | ABDULLAH WASEEM |
| RANIM/ESCAPE | Tunisia | Short | RIM NAKHLI |
| SACRILÈGE | Switzerland/France | International | CHRISTOPHE M. SABER |
| STILL WATER RUNS DEEP | USA/Nigeria | Short | ABBESI AKHAMIE |
| SUKARI | Tanzania | Short | HATIBU MADUDU |
| TAMALA | Tanzania | Short | GOODHOPE ELIESKIA |
| THE BAD MEXICAN | Uganda | Short | LOUKMAN ALI |
| THE DEEP PLACE | Ghana | International | LINDSAY BRANHAM , ANDREW MICHAEL ELLIS |
| THE ISLAND | Rwanda | Short | YUHI AMULI |
| THE SCHOOL BAG | India | Dhow Culture | DHEERAJ JINDAL |
| UNTIL THE SILENCE COMES | South Africa | Short | PULENG STEWART, JANNOUS AUKEMA |
| VERSNEL | South Africa | Short | DIAN WEYS |
| VISIONS | Nigeria | Short | ABBA T. MAKAMA, C.J. OBASI, MICHAEL GOUKEN OMONUA |
| WHAT YOU CALL LOVE | Turkey | Short International | FIRAT |
| WHITE ON BLACK | Senegal | Short | SAMBA DIAO, FRANCOIS JOANNON |
| ZAWADI | Tanzania | Short International | CLOTILDE BERTET |
| ZENITH | USA | Short | ELIANETTE |
| AFRICAN ANIMATION FILMS | |||
| “CRUSH” | Nigeria | STEPHEN | |
| A KALABANDA ATE MY HOMEWORK | Uganda | RAYMOND MALINGA | |
| BELLY FLOP | South Africa | JEREMY COLLINS KELLY DILLON | |
| DAWN OF THUNDER | Nigeria | KOLAWOLE | |
| ENJOYING SONGS | Madagascar | SITRAKA | |
| GOT FLOWERS TODAY | Nigeria | JIBRIL | |
| LULLABY FROM THE CRYPT | South Africa | EARLE | |
| NGUEMA | Tanzania | ||
| THE RED BUTTERFLY | Tunisia | OMAR | |
| TIRAOGO | Burkina Faso | ANDRÉ DANIEL TAPSOBA | |
| SWAHILI MOVIES COMPETITION | |||
| FATUMA | Feature | Tanzania | |
| BAHASHA | Feature | Tanzania | |
| SAFARI | Feature | Tanzania | |
| SEGERE | Feature | Tanzania | |
| THE CUT | Feature | Kenya | |
| DAYS OF NIGHT | Feature | Tanzania | |
| HATIA | Short | Tanzania | |
| HATUA KWA HATUA | Short | Tanzania | |
| LEAH | Short | Tanzania | |
| MY CHILDREN | Short | Tanzania | |
| PENDO | Short | Kenya | |
| SUKARI | Short | Tanzania | |
| TAMALA | Short | Tanzania | |
| ZAWADI | Short | Tanzania | |
| MZAZI RAFIKI | Short | Tanzania | |
| BROKEN DREAM | Short | Tanzania | |
| NJITI | Short | Tanzania |
