After 23 years of presenting the Zimbabwe International Film Festival with an intrinsically Zimbabwean experience, ZIFFT has chosen to take on a Pan-African outlook, inspired by the African Union’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. “Africa’s strategic framework to drive its goal for inclusive and sustainable development and the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity”
In recognition and support for the AU’s initiative, ZIFF will with effect from ZIFF23 become a Pan-African Film Festival that showcases films from Zimbabwe, Africa, and the African diaspora.
The 2023 edition of ZIFF will be held from 13 to 18 November 2023 under the theme “ASPIRATION5”, the first in The Africa We Want Season of festivals the organization plans to run. The theme is inspired by Aspiration 5 of AGENDA 2063: The Africa We Want. ASPIRATION5 calls for an Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values, and ethics.
The festival will be preceded by a 2 day conference to unpack Aspiration 5 of the Agenda 2063 from 29 to 30 September 2023 at the Great Zimbabwe monument in partnership with Great Zimbabwe University an institution with a strong commitment to the preservation of Zimbabwean heritage. The conference will feature a number of speakers, including filmmakers, academics, policymakers, and youth. The speakers will discuss the role of film in promoting African culture, the challenges facing the African film industry, and the future of African cinema with a solutions based approach to the process.
The festival itself will be a showcase of films from Africa and the diaspora, including Afro-descendants from Latin America and the Caribbean. Representatives from East, West, North and Southern Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean have confirmed participation. ZIFF23 will reach out across Zimbabwe in partnership with the National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ), the institution dedicated to the preservation of Zimbabwean culture and heritage, with Screenings and a Critics workshop developed in collaboration with the NGZ and taking place at the NGZ locations in Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare and Victoria Falls. Main screenings in Harare will be delivered in partnership with Theatre in the Park. The ZIFFTHUB will be the home of the creative community during the festival with Workshops, Masterclasses and screenings taking place in Kensington, Harare.
ZIFF23 begins with the Opening Night on 13 November 2023 and will conclude with a Closing night on 18 November 2023 and will be followed by an Awards ceremony on 18 November 2023, confirming the ASPIRATION5 by recognizing the best work created in the African film zeitgeist. The awards ceremony will showcase African film, fashion, and food in collaboration with the Embassies and other partners.
On Offer
Screenings: The festival will screen a variety of films from across Africa, showcasing the diversity of African cinema. This would be a great opportunity for government and the private sector to learn more about African culture and appreciate the talent of African filmmakers.
Film Forum: The festival will host a film forum where filmmakers, industry professionals, and government representatives will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing African cinema. This would be a great opportunity for government and the private sector to get involved in the development of the Pan African film industry.
Workshops and Masterclasses: The festival will offer workshops and masterclasses on topics such as film production, screenwriting, Cinematography and Film Scoring by leading Pan African Film makers. This would be a great opportunity for Zimbabwean film makers to develop their skills further and build their networks with film makers in other markets.
Networking sessions: The festival will host networking sessions where government and the private sector will meet with filmmakers, industry professionals, and other stakeholders. This would be a great opportunity to build relationships and to explore opportunities for collaboration.
Conference: The festival will host a conference on topics such as the future of African cinema, the role of film in cultural development, and the challenges facing the African film industry. This would be a great opportunity for government and corporates to learn more about these important issues.
Competitions– ZIFF23 will run a number of short film competitions encouraging students of film to create films inspired by the theme Aspiration5 with prizes to be given out at the Conference and Awards Ceremony
Awards Ceremony: The festival will host an awards ceremony to recognize the best films, filmmakers, and industry professionals from across Africa. This would be a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of African cinema and to promote the work of African filmmakers.
In addition to these value offerings, ZIFF23 would also be a great way to promote tourism in Zimbabwe and to showcase the country’s natural beauty and cultural attractions. It would also be a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of Agenda 2063 and ASPIRATION5, and to promote African unity and cooperation.
Contact Details
Executive Director- Zimbabwe International Film & Festival Trust (ZIFFT)
Simbirirai Solomon Maramba