ZIFF And EU Takes Film Screenings To Five Mainland Tanzania Regions Under “ZIFF Goes Mainland 2026” Initiative

Film is not merely a source of entertainment, as the creative sector also plays a significant role in promoting cultural heritage, arts and technology, while providing valuable education on various aspects of life.

To boost the development of this important visual art form across Tanzania, the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and its member states, has organised film screenings across five regions of mainland Tanzania.

The initiative, among other objectives, seeks to strengthen cultural exchange and provide young people with opportunities to learn through art and technology.

The screenings, under the “ZIFF Goes Mainland 2026” initiative, are scheduled to begin on October 20 at Alliance Française in Dar es Salaam, followed by activities in Bagamoyo, Iringa, Mwanza and Dodoma, running until December 2.

ZIFF Chief Executive Officer, Mr Joseph Mwale, said the partnership between the institution and the European Union had lasted for many years, with the mainland film outreach project reaching its fifth edition this year.

He said the films to be screened would come from EU member states and Tanzania, covering a range of topics, including artificial intelligence (AI), climate change and the relationship between humans and technology.

Mwale said most of the screenings would take place at universities to reach young people and provide them with opportunities to watch films, participate in discussions, learn about educational opportunities and exchange experiences, including through Erasmus programmes.

For his part, the European Union Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Jean Marc Pisani, said films were an important tool for bringing together people from different cultural backgrounds, fostering mutual understanding and opening up discussions on challenges facing the world.

He added that the film industry could also create employment opportunities for young people in areas such as film production, technical services and digital entrepreneurship.

The Nigerian film A Land Apart,  which won the Best Film award at ZIFF 2026, will open the screenings in Dar es Salaam.

The programme will feature films from 10 European Union member states, including France, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Ireland and Poland.