ZIFF kicks off with Kalushi

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ZIFF kicks off with Kalushi --

Mon, 11 Jul 2016 11:10

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The Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) 2016 launched on 9 July at the Old Fort Ampitheatre in Stone Town. With ZIFF s chief guest Kanul Kapur, ZIFF chairman Mahmoud Kombo, guest of honour minister of Information, Culture, Tourism and Sports Juma Rashidi, as well as South African filmmaker Mandla Dube in attendance.

After the symbolic raising of the Dhow sail that officially opened the festival, the opening night film Kalushi was introduced by festival director Martin Mhando, film director Dube and the films score composer Rashid Lanie. Kalushi is a South African film that tells the story of apartheid hero and activist Solomon Mahlangu. The venue under the Zanzibar stars was filled to capacity and the audience was enrapt with the film.

Guests spoke about the uniqueness of ZIFF and Zanzibar as a location for what has become East Africa s largest festival of its kind. Along with the screening there was a range of local entertainment including the Miss Tourism Fashion show, Maha Artista, Kilua Ngoma, and Baby J. The evening continued well into the night with live performances at the Mambo Club.

The event, supported by Zanlink was also broadcast live across multiple TV channels including Azam TV and ZBC TV.

Earlier in the evening the festival had its corporate launch at the Park Hyatt Hotel that was attended by all of ZIFF s corporate sponsors and also chief guest the minister of Education Rizidi Juma Pembe

The following day Dube and Lanie attended a press conference where, on what would have been Solomon Mahlangu s birthday, they spoke about the resonance of his story for today s South African youth. Dube also detailed the eight year journey that it has taken to make the film, starting from an exhibition and stage production. Dube explained that Mahlangu s story continues to be relevant to those in South Africa and across the globe.

The film will be screened again later in the week at ZIFF along with a number of other South African films including Davison Mudzwinga s Lost Tongue and Jarryd Coetzee s The Suit.

The festival through to Sunday 17 July with a full schedule of film screenings, exhibitions and performances.

For more information visit the ZIFF website.

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