Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF)

Overview

The Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), also known as the Festival of the Dhow Countries, is East Africa's largest and most distinctive film festival. Founded in 1998 and held annually in July on the island of Zanzibar, the festival celebrates the cinema and cultural heritage of the Dhow Countries -- the nations connected by the historic Indian Ocean dhow trade routes, encompassing East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, South Asia, and their connecting waters.

Zanzibar provides one of the most visually extraordinary festival settings in the world. The Stone Town of Zanzibar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Arab, Indian, and Swahili architectural heritage, serves as the backdrop for screenings in ancient fort courtyards and other historic venues. The combination of this unique setting and the festival's focus on Indian Ocean cultural exchange makes ZIFF unlike any other festival in the world.

ZIFF programs films from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Comoros, Madagascar, Yemen, Oman, India, and other Indian Ocean nations alongside international films, creating a genuinely cross-cultural program that reflects the region's historic connections.

Key Sections

• Feature Film Competition -- films from the Dhow Countries competing for jury prizes
• Documentary Competition -- nonfiction films from the region
• Short Film Competition -- short films from East Africa and the Indian Ocean
• Maisha Film Lab -- a training program for East African filmmakers
• Zanzibar Old Fort Screenings -- the iconic open-air screening venue
• Cultural Events -- music, dance, and craft programming connecting cinema to broader heritage

What Filmmakers Should Know

ZIFF accepts open submissions from filmmakers in the Dhow Countries region. For East African filmmakers, ZIFF is the most prestigious regional festival. The Maisha Film Lab, which operates in connection with the festival, provides hands-on filmmaking training for emerging East African directors.

The festival's location on Zanzibar creates logistical challenges that are offset by the extraordinary experience of screening films in the UNESCO-listed Stone Town. Attending ZIFF is one of the most memorable festival experiences available anywhere in the world.

Major Awards

• Jury Award -- Best Feature Film
• Best Documentary
• Best Short Film
• Best East African Film
• Audience Award

Festival History

ZIFF was founded in 1998 with the vision of creating a festival that honored the cultural connections of the Indian Ocean world. The festival has operated continuously since then, building a unique identity around the intersection of cinema and Dhow Countries cultural heritage.

See Also

For East African cinema, see International Film Markets. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy.