The Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), set to take place in August 2024, has introduced a new People’s Choice Award category, where Tanzanian dramas are making a significant impact. This new category emerged from the fierce competition and prolific production of Tanzanian dramas, which have captured substantial audiences and acclaim.
Five Tanzanian dramas—Twisted, Bunji, Juakali, Report, and Dhohar—have been nominated in this category, which includes ten television dramas from East African Community countries. The announcement was made on July 16, with ZIFF revealing that this year’s festival has shortlisted approximately 70 films from over 3,000 submissions.
ZIFF Festival Director Hatibu Madudu encouraged Tanzanians to participate in voting, which starts on July 20. “We introduced this category to spark excitement and foster competition in TV drama series across East African Community countries. The competition was fierce, so Tanzanians should come out and vote for their favorite dramas,” Madudu stated. He urged creators to use social media to promote their productions.
Madudu also highlighted the diversity of submissions, with films from over 100 countries making it one of the largest events of its kind. The 70 competing films are spread across 11 categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Short Film, and others.
Regarding Tanzanian submissions, Madudu noted the consistent success of Tanzanian films in winning international awards over the past three years, urging filmmakers to submit more entries.
The festival will also feature a special ‘Zanzibar Day’ on July 31, showcasing entertainment and various films from Zanzibar, including House of Wonders, alongside 11 workshops on film training, mobile filmmaking, and strategies to enhance the arts sector.
ZIFF CEO Joseph Mwale emphasised the festival’s goal to raise awareness about the film industry and promote Indian Ocean dhow culture across regions like South Asia, East Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula.
Expected to draw around 2,000 viewers under the theme of rejuvenation, with 3,000 films submitted globally, the festival aims to address pertinent issues through initiatives like the International Youth Media Summit (IYMS), involving 100 young participants to create short films that inspire global awareness and action.
The European Union Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms. Christine Grau, stated that this year’s theme of Rejuvenation targeting youth is a major priority for the EU in empowering young people across various fields, including the arts, and they will continue to collaborate in the festival.
