ZIFF is East Africa's largest film, music and arts festival, bringing new talents together from all over the world for a Zanzibar Tamasha!

ZIFF 2012 Festival Tentative Schedule

The Opening Day July 7th will begin with film screenings in the morning. The official opening will be in the night in the Old Fort Amphitheatre. It will consist of cultural presentations of music and dance centered around Zanzibar art forms but also inclusive of the broader Tanzanian and African art forms. A video montage of a selection of different films to be screened during the festival will be shown. This will then be followed with the screening of a feature narrative film.

On Sunday July 8th the Dhow race will kick off the day's activities. Screenings will begin after the race. In the evening a narrative feature film will be shown followed by the grand opening of the music festival in the Mambo club.

Monday July 9th Workshops on HD Camera and Film Editing Techniques together with the activities of the Children's and Women's Panorama will begin in the morning at 09:00. In the evening the same format will be followed i.e. a feature film presentation followed by the music show in Mambo Club. Monday will also see the beginning of the Festival of Festivals Program.

Tuesday July 10th screenings, workshops and activities of the Children's and Women's Panoramas will continue as per scheduled. In the evening the program changes such that the theatre performance of Calabashes will replace the feature film presentation. The music show in Mambo club will follow the theatre presentation.

Wednesday July 11th is Made in Zanzibar Day for films and music. The program will be held in La Gema Hotel, outside stonetown.The screenings will reflect this theme as much as possible. The evening the program will present a Kiswahili language Made in Zanzibar narrative feature. The Music show at the Mambo Club will also reflect this theme and will include spoken word. Wednesday is also The Sembene Ousmane Films for Development showcase day. All the 16 competing films will be shown and assessed by the Jury.

Thursday July 12th Screenings, workshops and activities of Women's and Children's panoramas as per schedules. Afternoon Panel Presentation and open forum on Developing the Film and Entertainment Industry for Employment Creation; Evening program will present the second performance of Calabashes followed by the music show in the Mambo Club

Friday July 13th is Tuwasikilize Wanawake theme day for films and music; Screenings, workshops and activities of the Children's and Women's Panoramas as per schedules. The Women's Panorama activities will be planned in sync with this day to bring the Women's Panorama center stage at the festival. Evening documentary or narrative feature presentation on, about or by women will be featured this will be followed by Fashion show and the night of women musicians and singers.

Saturday July 14th Screenings, workshops and activities of Children's and Women's Panorama as per schedule;

Sunday July 15th the Grand Finale concert with the headline artists in Mambo club. Screenings, workshops and activities of children's and women's Panorama as per schedule. Evening closing ceremonies that will include presentation of shorts that were produced in the workshops; presentation of awards with clips from winning films. Closing remarks from guest of honor; followed by Zanzibar music and dance presentation for closing ceremony; and screening of ZIFF winner for best narrative feature

AWARDS 2012

Here are the prizes of this 2012 edition given during the closing night at Old Fort amphitheatre.

ZUKU AWARDS:

THE BEST AFRICAN FILM:
INSIDE STORY by ROLIE NIKIWE (South Africa)

THE BEST ACTOR:
KEVIN NDEGE MAMBOLEO
FROM "INSIDE STORY" by ROLIE NIKIWE (South Africa)

THE BEST FEMALE ACTOR:
THULI KHULAMELO, NOMFUNDO DUNAZANA, REONA NGIBA
from "UHLANGA (THE MARK)" by NDAABA KA NGAWANE (South Africa)

ZIFF AWARDS:

BEST SHORT FILM:
MOCCASINS by DENIS M. KIMATHI (Kenya)

BEST DOCUMENTARY:
MAMA AFRICA by MIKA KAURISMÄKI (South Africa)

BEST ANIMATION:
OSTORA by Hani KIchi (Syria)

BEST FEATURE FILM:
GOLDEN DHOW:
UHLANGA (THE MARK) by NDAABA KA NGAWANE (South Africa)

SILVER DOWN:
ZAMORA by SHAMS BHANJI (Zanzibar)

BEST EAST AFRICAN FILM:
ZAMORA by SHAMS BHANJI (Zanzibar)

BEST TANZANIAN FEATURE FILM
CHUNGU BY KIMELA BILLA (Tanzania)

BEST TANZANIAN ACTOR
RICHARD MSHANGA from Chungu by Kimela Billa

*SPECIAL MENTION FOR BEST DIRECTION:
TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE by Philippe Niang

*SPECIAL MENTIONS:
INSIDE STORY
DREAM (NDOTO by Peter Mbwago (Tanzania)
PLEASE DON'T BEAT ME SIR

OUSMANE SEMBENE FILMS FOR DEVELOPMENT AWARD:
UHLANGA (THE MARK) by NDAABA KA NGAWANE (South Africa)

SIGNIS East African Talent
RUHAGO by Mbabazi Aimé Phiilbert (Rwanda)

SIGNIS AWARD
UHLANGA (THE MARK) by NDAABA KA NGAWANE (South Africa)

VERONA AWARD:
UHLANGA (THE MARK) by NDAABA KA NGAWANE (South Africa)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
DR. MARTIN MHANDO

CHAIRMAN AWARD
Mr. FABRIZIO COLOMBO