Ziff: Creative minds win hearts

Wananchi Group vice chairman Richard Bell hands over the Zanzibar International Film Festival (Ziff) Award 2014 trophy to winner Ady de Batista from Guinea Bissau during the closing ceremony of the international show in Zanzibar on Saturday night. PHOTO | SALHIM SHAO 

Zanzibar. On the night when film makers, big and small, crossed each other’s paths, Guinea Bissau Film Espinho De Rosa (A Thorn of Rose) emerged as the greatest winner of the night after scooping three awards.

The film, which was made by Felippe Henriques, took home the Signis Award, the Silver Dhow and the ZIFF award for Best Actor.

Films from southern Africa were big winners with ‘Sobokwe: A Great Soul’ winning the prestigious Chairman’s Award, Body Games by Richard Paklep from Namibia picked the Sembene Ousmane Award.

The glittering night was a culmination of a week of fanfare and film viewing at the 17th edition of the Zanzibar International Film festival this weekend at the Ngome Kongwe Amphitheatre,

The awards also featured a special category for the Best Swahili film which fell under the category of the Zuku award.

Jacob Stevens (JB) production ‘Shikamoo Mzee’ won the Most Popular Choice award, whereas Esha Buheti was honoured as the best Actress for her efforts in ‘Mimi Na Mungu Wangu’.

Jackson Kabingi was named as the best actor whereas the Best Director and Best Feature Film award went to Isaa Musa aka Cloud 112 who was for some reason not present.

Speaking before the awards, the Wananchi Group vice chairman Richard Bell said, over the past two years, the content has improved in terms of quality.

He urged film makers, especially those from East Africa, to use the power of local content to grow.

Using examples of their own efforts, Richard Bell, said that local content can generate money if it is done properly.

“We can use local content to make an impact on the global stage. There is nothing wrong with looking at it from a monetary point of view. These productions don’t have to be just a labour of love, yet they can also make money,” he said.

In his closing remarks, Prof Martin Mhando, who has been at the helm of the festival for almost seven years, said working at Ziff for him had been a joy, a creative endavour and a challenge.