ZIFF2015 Kicks Off

The Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) themed “Documation” kicks off today at Ster-kinekor, Borrowdale, with the screening of “Timbuktu”, a film directed by veteran Mauritanian filmmaker,Abderrahmane Sissako .
According to ZIFF Director, Elton Mjanana the 17th edition will have over 100 of 54 films, making 13 venues around Harare.
“The venues are Sam Levy’s Village (Ster-kinekor), Copacabana, ZIFFT Hub at the Trust’s premises, Warren Park, Chitungwiza, Mbare, Mufakose, Epworth, Dzivarasekwa, Highfield and Kambuzuma”, said Mjanana.
Other Highlights of the Festival include the Short Film Project (SFP) premiere and ZIFF Awards Night on 9 October. The two SFP films “Freedom” and “The Collector” will be screened for the first time. On the same occasion, awards will be given for film excellence, Documentaries, Feature, and Shorts. The Zim-Calabash will recognise Zimbabwean filmmakers, while a new category, the “Hi-Five” will award prizes for the best 5-minute film.
Documentary films in competition are “Life is Waiting: Referundum and Resistence in Western Sahara” byIara Lee, “The Devil is a Liar” by Riaan Hendricks, “Elephant’s Dream” by Kristof Bilsen, La Sirene De Faso Fani by Michel Zongo, Democrats , By Camilla Nielssen, Unearthed (SA) Jolynn Minnaar, , Dreamcather (USA) Kim Longnito, “The Elected”, and “Lovers In Time”.
Jurists are Marian Kunonga, Ruvimbo Musariri, Leonard Matsa, Eric Witzgall, John Sterwart, Dr. Washington Mushore, Taremeredzwa Chirawa, Nqobizitha Enqore Mlilo, Melody Gwenyambira, Brendon Sole, Linda Gabriel, and Josephine Jenje. It is chaired by Dr Washington Mushore who is a lecture at the Midlands State University.
Mjanana said this year’s theme was largely influenced by the passion on documentary films.
“My first year as Festival Director couldn’t have come at a better time– a time when we the Festival theme is ‘Documation’. As a passionate lover of documentary films, I found myself reveling at the prospect of curating a Festival that paid particular bias to this genre.You will notice that there is a bigger Documentary screening schedule this year,” he said.
Mjanana said “ZIFF’s focus on animation will be achieved mainly through Nafuna TV’s ‘Nafuna Campus’ that will focus on developing Zimbabwean animation to international standard”.