The 17th edition of the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) popularly known as the Tamasah is set for 14-24 June 2014. The theme for this year will be “A Common Destinyâ€.
While announcing this year’s edition Prof Martin Mhando, ZIFF Director confirmed that the award winning film “Mandela: A long walk to Freedom” directed by Justin Chadwick starring Idris Elba and Naomie Harris will headline the ZIFF 2014.The movie which complements 2014’s theme, reinforces commonness of the shared histories of communities, nations and cultures that the man, myth, legend Mandela embodies.
Lauding the Festival, Wananchi Group CEO, Richard Alden noted, “As a broadcaster, ZUKU is deeply invested in the growth and success of East Africa’s creative and content industries. It is therefore with pride that we continue our event sponsorship in association with ZIFF, which has for the last 17 years been instrumental in celebrating and enabling film making from the region and around the world.”
Notable new attractions to the festival include the presence of a whirling dervish dance group from Egypt. Other performance groups from India and the Seychelles are also being considered.
The festival will also include two conferences and a Women and the Media Workshop program to be run in collaboration with the College of New Jersey, USA. The Hakuna Kama Mama Workshops will take place in Nungwi, Jambiani, Paje and Kizimkazi. The Workshops will result in a large exhibition of participants’ photographs, stories, and drawings. Marla Jaskch, faculty member of the College will lead the team.
The selection of films in competition is now being undertaken.