European Film Festival Zimbabwe Marks 10th Anniversary with Bigger Prizes and Female-Centric Focus

The European Film Festival Zimbabwe (EuroFilmFestZW) is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary in grand style by doubling the prize money for its prestigious Bioskop! Short Film competition and amplifying female voices in the film industry.

This year’s festival, themed “Celebrating Women,” will honor female contributions to cinema by increasing the prize pool and strengthening the adjudication panel with two additional female judges. A key event in Zimbabwe’s film calendar, the festival not only fosters cultural exchange through European cinema but also supports the development of local filmmaking talent.

Festival co-curator Alex Gwaze confirmed the festival’s commitment to gender inclusivity. “This year, we are excited to add two women to our core adjudication team, aligning with our theme of celebrating women. We are also thrilled to welcome back Sibongile Mlambo, Daniel Lasker, and Prosper Kunyeta,” he said.

Mlambo, who has served as a judge since 2021, continues to dedicate her time to the competition despite her commitments in the USA. The new judges joining the panel are Hanieh Ziaei, replacing Matthieu Eberhardt, and Sue-Ellen Chitunya. Ziaei, a researcher, film critic, and analyst, brings expertise in women’s representation in film. “Hanieh’s perspective, being based in Europe—the birthplace of feminism and home to many female leaders—will help us compare how women’s stories are told here versus the West,” Gwaze added.

Chitunya, an Oscar-voting member of The Academy and a Film Independent Fellow, is also known for producing the documentary For Tomorrow, available on Amazon worldwide.

Returning judge Daniel Lasker expressed enthusiasm for this year’s competition, stating, “It’s a joy discovering new Zimbabwean films and filmmakers.”

The 2024 edition of EuroFilmFestZW will run from May 30 to June 8, with major events scheduled in Harare and Bulawayo.