Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), also known as Festival of the Dhow Countries.
FESTIVAL PROGRAMME 2025
25th June, 2025: OPENING DAY
| Timing | Details | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 06:00 - 07:30 AM | ZIFF PARADE: Sponsored by ZIFF |
DARAJANI TO OLD FORT |
| 02:00 - 04:00 PM | WORKSHOP: SHORT FILM (48HRS PROJECT) With Nerusha Maharaj Sadapal (South Africa) Sponsored by Zanzibar Entertainment Foundation |
HIFADHI |
| 07:00 - 08:30 PM | OPENING CEREMONY | OLD FORT: AMPHITHEATER |
| 08:30 - 10:32 PM | SCREENING: OPENING FILM | OLD FORT: AMPHITHEATER |
26th June, 2025: BONGO MOVIE DAY
| Timing | Details | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 - 11:00 AM | FILM SCREENINGS | MARUMARU HOTEL |
| 09:00 - 11:00 AM | WORKSHOP: SHORT FILM (48HRS PROJECT) With Nerusha Maharaj Sadapal (South Africa) Sponsored by Zanzibar Entertainment Foundation |
HIFADHI |
| 09:00 - 11:00 AM | WORKSHOP: DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING with Charles Domingue (Canada) Sponsored by ZIFF |
OLD CUSTOM HOUSE |
| 09:00 - 11:00 AM | WORKSHOP: GET IT WRITE with Christopher Doherty (USA) Sponsored by ZIFF |
HABARI HOUSE |
| 09:00 - 12:30 PM | CHILDREN PANORAMA with WEZA (Zanzibar) Sponsored by EUROPEAN UNION |
HORIZON |
| 09:00 - 11:00 AM | WOMEN PANORAMA with Women Who Impact Sponsored by EUROPEAN UNION |
EMERSON |
| 11:15 - 13:00 PM | PANEL DISCUSSION: "Strategic Digital Distribution of Content for Monetization" Sponsored by Goethe Institut |
THE BOX |
| 14:00 - 14:45 PM | PRESS CONFERENCE: Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS Sponsored by Karafuu Cafe |
KARAFUU CAFE |
| 15:00 - 17:00 PM | FILM SCREENINGS | MARUMARU HOTEL |
| 15:00 - 17:00 PM | MASTER CLASS: "Believe" by JP Williams (Jamaica) Sponsored by Embassy of Jamaica in Tanzania & ZIFF |
THE BOX |
| 07:00 - 08:00 PM | MOBILE CINEMA Sponsored by STONE TOWN MILELE |
KIPONDA |
| 07:00 - 10:30 PM | FILM SCREENING | OLD FORT: AMPHITHEATER & MARUMARU HOTEL |
| 10:30 - 00:00 AM | NETWORKING Sponsored by Livingstone Restaurant |
LIVINGSTONE RESTAURANT |
27th June, 2025: AFRICAN PREMIERE DAY
| Timing | Details | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 - 11:00 AM | FILM SCREENINGS | MARUMARU HOTEL |
| 09:00 - 11:00 AM | WORKSHOP: PITCHING SHORT FILM With Ahmed Samir (Egypt) Sponsored by ZIFF |
HIFADHI |
| 09:00 - 11:00 AM | WORKSHOP: DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING Sponsored by ZIFF |
OLD CUSTOM HOUSE |
| 09:00 - 11:00 AM | WORKSHOP: GET IT WRITE with Christopher Doherty (USA) Sponsored by ZIFF |
HABARI HOUSE |
| 09:00 - 12:30 PM | CHILDREN PANORAMA with WEZA (Zanzibar) Sponsored by EUROPEAN UNION |
HORIZON |
| 09:00 - 11:00 AM | WOMEN PANORAMA with Women Who Impact Sponsored by EUROPEAN UNION |
EMERSON |
| 11:15 - 13:00 PM | PANEL DISCUSSION: Women in Film: Who calls the shots? Sponsored by Goethe Institut |
THE BOX |
| 14:00 - 14:45 PM | PRESS CONFERENCE: Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS Sponsored by Karafuu Cafe |
KARAFUU CAFE |
| 15:00 - 17:00 PM | FILM SCREENINGS | MARUMARU HOTEL |
| 15:00 - 17:00 PM | OUTDOOR EVENTS: DHOW RACE & BEACH SOCCER Main Sponsor AZAM MEDIA LTD |
SERENA HOTEL BEACH |
| 07:00 - 10:00 PM | VILLAGE PANORAMA Sponsored by ZIFF |
MATEMWE |
| 07:00 - 08:00 PM | MOBILE CINEMA Sponsored by STONE TOWN MILELE |
KIPONDA |
| 07:00 - 10:30 PM | FILM SCREENING | OLD FORT: AMPHITHEATER & MARUMARU HOTEL |
| 10:30 - 00:00 AM | NETWORKING Sponsored by Livingstone Restaurant |
LIVINGSTONE RESTAURANT |
28th June, 2025: AFRICAN PREMIERE DAY
| Timing | Details | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 - 11:00 AM | FILM SCREENINGS | MARUMARU HOTEL |
| 09:00 - 11:00 AM | WORKSHOP: GIVING US VOICE With Prof. Elgidius Ichumbaki (UDSM) Sponsored by BRITISH ACADEMY |
THE BOX |
| 09:00 - 11:00 AM | WOMEN PANORAMA with Women Who Impact Sponsored by EUROPEAN UNION |
EMERSON |
| 11:15 - 13:00 PM | PANEL DISCUSSION: The Growing Need for African Stories: Are we ready to Benefit? Sponsored by Goethe Institut |
THE BOX |
| 14:00 - 14:45 PM | PRESS CONFERENCE: Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS Sponsored by Karafuu Cafe |
KARAFUU CAFE |
| 15:00 - 17:00 PM | FILM SCREENINGS | MARUMARU HOTEL |
| 15:00 - 17:00 PM | EAFN MEETING Sponsored by ZIFF |
KARAFUU CAFE |
| 07:00 - 10:00 PM | VILLAGE PANORAMA Sponsored by ZIFF |
KIZIMKAZI |
| 07:00 - 10:30 PM | FILM SCREENING | OLD FORT: AMPHITHEATER & MARUMARU HOTEL |
| 10:30 - 00:00 AM | NETWORKING Sponsored by Livingstone Restaurant |
LIVINGSTONE RESTAURANT |
29th June, 2025: CLOSING DAY
| Timing | Details | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 - 13:00 PM | FILM SCREENINGS: SHORTS & SERIES MARATHON | MARUMARU HOTEL & EMERSON |
| 14:00 - 14:45 PM | PRESS CONFERENCE: Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS Sponsored by Karafuu Cafe |
KARAFUU CAFE |
| 13:30 - 17:00 PM | FILM SCREENINGS: SHORTS & SERIES MARATHON | MARUMARU HOTEL & EMERSON |
| 07:00 - 10:30 PM | CLOSING CEREMONY: AWARDS NIGHT | OLD FORT: AMPHITHEATER |
We're excited happy for our Partners
