By Paul Owere

That time of the year is here again, Zanzibar is abuzz and awash with visitors, as the world converges to witness one of the greatest film festivals in Africa. 

 

Film makers on a trip to sign some great talents, actors and actresses, tourists and ordinary film enthusiasts are headed to the Spice Island for the annual extravaganza.

 

The 13th edition of the Zanzibar International Film Festival (Ziff) kicks off tomorrow and it promises to be bigger and improved this time around under a new theme of ‘Hopes in Harmony’. 

According to festival Director, Martin Mhando, over 100 films will be shown to the audience of over 200,000 from over 43 countries at the Mji Mkongwe.

 

 This is an improvement in comparison to last year’s 86 films shown from 45 countries.

In recognition of the strides made by the local film industry, this year the festival has dedicated Swahili Day to Tanzanian made films with eight films on show at the Beit El Ajaib (House of Wonders) and Africa House.

 “There is growing demand for these films and these days you will find at least one of these movies in every house with a DVD or VHS, something that tells you that people identify with these movies,” says the festival director.

Some of the local films to be shown at the two different venues include, ‘Olapong’ starring Tino, Mzee Ulotu, Hashimu Kambi, ‘Barbra’ Starring Haji Adam-Baba Haji, ‘Huba’ Starring Mzee Ulotu, Neema, Kenyatta, ‘Pay Back’ Starring Bongo movies sensation Steve Kanumba. 

The day will also feature films like ‘Black Sunday’ acted by  Monalisa, Mlela, Kanumba,  ‘Nani’ starring Deo, Baby Madaha and  Renatus  ‘Happy Couples’ a Pili Pili production  and ‘Usaliti’ featuring Omar, Ayesha, Funi.

“We think that this should encourage actors and local film makers to use ZIFF as a platform to market themselves and their works,” says Mhando.

“We have also invited local actors like Steve Kanumba, Vincent Kigosi, Monalisa, and Aunty Ezekiel,” he adds.

The festival will also have two new awards in addition to the existing ones specifically to the Bongo films. The awards are ‘Best Bongo Film’ and ‘Best Bongo Actor’.

 

Other awards are the best feature film, best East African Film, best Documentary and Best Short/Animation. 

The festival has cut down on donor funding in the past year by 45 per cent and for the first time will show films for free to all the locals.

 

In an embrace of diversity, this year will not be about films only, as it will feature other aspects of art and culture. 

 

“The festival will feature music performances from over 20 local and international artistes like AY, Dully Sykes, Kidumu from Burundi , Body Mind Soul from Northern Malawi, Windhund featuring Sekembuke & Siga from Austria, Royal echoes from Ghana among others,” he said. 

 

Apart from these from the song and dance, art will also take center stage in form of photo exhibition by Carlo d’Este, art work by Iranian women and the Kitenge exhibition in the ‘Colour Bash’.

 

 However, even as the festival makes an effort to put local movies on the international scene, it looks like it is a one-way traffic as the actors are not paying any attention to their efforts.

“We invited all of them through their organisations but some of them were shameless to ask for allowances to attend,” says Mhando.

 

“It goes without doubt that they don’t recognise us but we do and that is why, we literally beg them to attend even to some of the workshops that we organise. But as they say, if a mountain can’t come to you, then you have to go where it is,” he adds.

 

Since this festival is happening around the final stages of the Fifa World Cup, therefore, they will screen the Playoff game and thereafter it will be none stop eight days of action with the award winning documentary, ‘I Bring What I love,’ by Youssou N’Dour kicking off the proceedings at the Old Fort amphitheatre.