Tanzanian dramas dominate the new people's choice category at ZIFF 2024

Tanzanian dramas have made a significant impact in the newly introduced People's Choice Award category at the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), scheduled to take place in August 2024.

This category emerged from intense competition and the prolific production of Tanzanian dramas, which have garnered substantial audiences and acclaim.

Five Tanzanian dramas, Twisted, Bunji, Juakali, Report, and Dhohar, have been nominated in this category, which features a total of ten television dramas from East African Community countries.

The announcement was made on July 16, when ZIFF disclosed that this year's festival has shortlisted approximately 70 films from over 3,000 submissions.

Speaking to reporters, ZIFF Festival Director Hatibu Madudu encouraged Tanzanians to participate in voting starting on July 20, highlighting that fans will determine the outcome in this category.

“We introduced this category intentionally to spark excitement, particularly by fostering competition in TV drama series and opening the door to all East African Community countries. The competition was fierce, so Tanzanians should come out and vote for their favourite dramas, while creators should utilise social media to promote their productions," Mr Madudu stated.

He also noted the diversity of submissions this year, with films gathered from more than 100 countries, making it one of the largest events of its kind.

Among the 70 competing films are entries across 11 categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, the special Emerson's Award for the best film from Zanzibar, Best Short Film, Best Reality Film, and others.

"There are a total of 25 feature films, 13 documentaries, 10 dramas, and 22 short films. There is a high standard of quality in these works, and the voting process will start on the 20th of this month until the 3rd of next month. Therefore, filmmakers and actors should strategize to promote their works to win," Madudu said.

Regarding Tanzanian submissions, Madudu highlighted 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 covering 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.

"The festival will feature various platforms, including a children's platform, rural women, ngalawa races, women's beach soccer, discussions, and screenings of exciting films from Zanzibar," said Mwale.

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, has 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.

“The EU will continue to collaborate with Tanzania in arts and community activities through various ongoing projects, including those aimed at empowering women,” she shared.