South African films will be screened throughout the day, leading up to an evening of special screenings, including that of the multi-awarded documentary Winnie – sponsored by RE/MAX Omela.

James Prevost, RE/MAX Omela, says, "We are proud as REMAX Omela to be part of the screening of Winnie. Winnie Mandela was a South African struggle icon and powerful woman. Our sponsorship is founded on the belief that everyone should know the story of the heroine and the sacrifices she made for the liberation and freedom of her country."

The South African High Commissioner to Tanzania, H E Thami Mseleku, will be in attendance, along with other dignitaries from the Zanzibar government.

"The South African government is in full support of the screening of Winnie at ZIFF 2018. We looking forward to having more South African film in Zanzibar to create a platform for education, dialogue, and discussion," says Mseleku.

"We also would like to extend an invitation to Zanzibar to attend our Durban Film Festival (South Africa) in an effort to exchange ideas and depict our shared liberation history," Mseleku adds.

Mseleku says, "It is the pleasure of the South Africa High Commission to be apart of this cultural exchange, and we commend your continued drive to have an avenue to tell our African stories in film. ZIFF can count on our support in future festival dates."

The ZIFF chairperson, Mahmoud Kombo, alongside the South African High Commissioner, will introduce the documentary Winnie after a series of live performances featuring South African traditional music and dance.


Winnie, directed by Pascale Lamche, has won awards across the globe. Following this screening, the film Laugh Out Loud with President Mandela will be screened and introduced by Firdoze Bulbulia and Faith Isiakpere. 

Festival director Fabrizio Colombo adds, "ZIFF has always celebrated and given importance to liberation movements and the struggle for freedom that South Africa has embodied through historical figures like Nelson and Winnie Mandela. ZIFF's 2018 theme about speaking out for truth, freedom and justice finds in the South Africa Day its best fulfilment and a wonderful way to close the 2018 edition of the festival." 

South Africa Day at ZIFF on Sunday, 15 July will be the closing day of the festival that will have seen nine days of film screenings, workshops, concerts and special events.

The evening will conclude with the customary lowering of the Dhow sail, the symbol of ZIFF by Kombo.

For more information, visit www.ziff.or.tz or contact [email protected].