SOTAMBE Zambia International Film Festival (ZAMIFF)

Overview

SOTAMBE Zambia International Film Festival (ZAMIFF) is Zambia's largest film festival, held annually in Lusaka. The 13th edition runs September 22 to 26, 2026. The festival accepts features, short films, documentaries, and animation through FilmFreeway, with a competitive program focused on Southern African filmmaking. Global submissions are welcome, but films set in or about the Southern African region receive priority consideration.

ZAMIFF positions itself as the primary platform for Southern African cinema. Zambia's landlocked location at the geographic center of southern Africa - bordering eight countries including Tanzania, DRC, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Mozambique - gives the festival natural reach across multiple African film traditions. For filmmakers working in the region, ZAMIFF offers the most direct route to a Southern African audience and industry network.

The 2026 edition marks a strategic shift under CEO Martina Mwanza, moving beyond traditional screenings toward industry development, partnerships, and market access. The festival now connects filmmakers to distribution opportunities and cross-border collaborations rather than functioning solely as an exhibition event.

Submission Details

ZAMIFF accepts open submissions through FilmFreeway. The festival accepts features, short films, documentaries, and animation across multiple competition categories.

Submission deadlines for ZAMIFF 2026:

• Early Bird Deadline: April 26, 2026
• Regular Deadline: June 1, 2026
• Late Deadline: July 1, 2026

Submission fees are tiered across these three deadlines. Exact fee amounts are listed on the ZAMIFF FilmFreeway page. Films completed in or after 2023 are eligible. Non-English films must include English subtitles. The festival accepts all genres.

Global submissions are welcome, with a special focus on Southern African filmmakers. If your film is set in or about the Southern African region, ZAMIFF should be a priority submission. The networking opportunities are reported to be strong, as Zambia's creative sector is growing rapidly and the festival attracts filmmakers from across Africa.

Key Sections

• Feature Film Competition - features from Southern Africa and beyond, competing for Best Feature Film (Southern Africa)
• Short Film Competition - short films across all genres
• Documentary Program - nonfiction features and shorts
• Animation Program - animated films from African and international filmmakers
• Industry Program - market access, partnerships, and business development sessions (new focus for 2026)
• Regional Showcase - films from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, DRC, and neighboring nations

What Filmmakers Should Know

For Southern African Filmmakers

ZAMIFF is the most targeted competitive platform for Southern African cinema. The festival's regional focus means your film screens before an audience that understands the cultural context and can connect you to local distribution networks. The 2026 edition's industry program adds a market dimension that previous editions lacked, with CEO Martina Mwanza positioning the festival as a bridge between Southern African filmmakers and broader African and international markets.

Filmmaker Owas Ray Mwape, a ZAMIFF participant, noted that the festival attracts filmmakers from across Africa, enabling an exchange of ideas and skills that improves the quality of local film production. While Zambian films are still largely consumed domestically, the festival is increasing international exposure and encouraging partnerships.

For International Filmmakers

International films are accepted and welcome, but the competitive categories prioritize Southern African work. If your film has African themes or Southern African connections, it will receive stronger consideration. The festival is not Academy Award qualifying and does not have an attached film market in the traditional sense, but the 2026 industry program is building toward market-style connections.

Practical Considerations

Lusaka has limited cinema infrastructure compared to festivals in Cape Town or Durban, but this creates a more intimate festival experience with direct access to local filmmakers and audiences. Travel to Lusaka is straightforward via Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, with connections from Johannesburg, Nairobi, and Addis Ababa. Budget-conscious filmmakers should note that accommodation in Lusaka during the festival period is affordable compared to major European or North American festivals.

Awards

ZAMIFF presents awards across multiple categories:

• Best Feature Film (Southern Africa) - jury prize for the top Southern African feature
• Best Director - awarded across competition categories
• Best Actor / Best Actress - performance awards
• Additional category awards for shorts, documentaries, and animation

The full award structure is confirmed closer to each edition. Check the ZAMIFF FilmFreeway page for the current year's complete list of awards and prizes.

Festival History

ZAMIFF was founded in 2013 as the SOTAMBE Documentary Film and Arts Festival. The festival was elevated and renamed to SOTAMBE Zambia International Film Festival on its 10th anniversary in 2022, reflecting a broadened scope from documentary-only programming to include all film genres. The festival has grown from small-scale screenings into an internationally recognized platform, positioning itself as a driver of industry growth and cross-border collaboration in Africa's film sector.

The festival experienced a gap year in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but returned in 2022 with its expanded format. The 2026 edition represents the 13th iteration of the festival and its most significant strategic pivot, moving from a screening-focused event to an industry development platform.

Zambia's film sector remains smaller than those of South Africa, Nigeria, or Kenya, but the country's political stability, growing middle class, and central location give it long-term potential as a regional film hub. ZAMIFF is the primary institution driving that development.

See Also

Use the Festival ROI Calculator to weigh submission fees against potential returns from attending. For festival strategy and selecting the right African festivals for your film, read Film Festival Strategy. For understanding the Southern African distribution landscape, see International Film Markets.