The European Film Festival Zimbabwe and the BIOSKOP! Short Film Competition Zimbabwe invite audiences to experience the best of European cinema and discover local talent. This year’s theme, “Staying Connected,” offers a unique platform for filmmakers to showcase their creativity and storytelling prowess.

About the Festival: The Ninth Edition of the European Film Festival Zimbabwe will run from 11th to 19th October 2024, with main events in Harare at Mbare Art Space, Ster Kinekor in Bulawayo, and pop-up screenings in Kadoma and Gweru. Established by the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe and its Member States in 2016, the festival has become one of Zimbabwe’s premier film industry events. The #EuroFilmFestZW celebrates both European and African cinema, offering a platform for cultural exchange and highlighting Zimbabwe’s rich cultural and filmmaking heritage.

Over the years, the festival has grown from showcasing European films to functioning as a full-fledged film festival. With programming dedicated to the development of the local film industry, the festival provides opportunities for Zimbabwean filmmakers to engage with and learn from international professionals.

BIOSKOP! Short Film Competition Zimbabwe: The European Film Festival Zimbabwe 2024 calls on filmmakers from across Zimbabwe and the diaspora (Europe/Africa) to participate in the fifth edition of the BIOSKOP! Short Film Competition. This annual event celebrates the creativity of Zimbabwean filmmakers, showcasing short films that explore the unique worldview and experiences of Zimbabweans.

The competition has been a launchpad for many talented filmmakers, allowing them to present their vision to a wider audience and connect with industry professionals. The winning film is awarded a cash prize and screened at the European Film Festival Zimbabwe.

This year, BIOSKOP! challenges filmmakers to submit short films that explore the fascinating world of gender and staying connected. Filmmakers are encouraged to break stereotypes and reveal the beauty of diversity, celebrating the power of human connection—whether between friends, family, or strangers. The stories should resonate with the human spirit, showcasing resilience, solidarity, and the transformative power of connection. Through the lens of gender, filmmakers will navigate the complexities of identity and representation, crafting narratives that reflect the diverse mosaic of humanity.

The competition is open to all film genres, including animation, documentary, and live action. Films will be judged based on content, creativity, and technical aspects, with consideration given to limited resources. Filmmakers are encouraged to be innovative and tell their captivating stories with what they have.

Guidelines

ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible for this competition you must be of Zimbabwean heritage, based, living or working in Zimbabwe or in any European or African country.

Participating filmmakers who have family members organizing or judging the competition must advise the Festival Coordinators of their relationship with the of participating jury/judges to avoid conflict of interest. Jury/Judges related to any filmmaker will not be allowed to adjudicate in the category of the said filmmaker. This will ensure that the adjudication process remains transparent and fair. Violation of this Advisory will constitute disqualification of your film from the competition.

OFFICIAL (JURY) COMPETITION/CATEGORIES/AWARDS/PRIZE MONEY

1. An independent jury panel made up of industry professionals, academics, community and business leaders judge all films in the official competition.

2. The categories/awards are as follows, with the selected winners receiving a cash prize:

● Best Narrative Short – Winner USD 400

● Best Documentary Short – Winner USD 400

●Best Sound Editing – Winner USD 200

●Best Cinematography – Winner USD 200

● Best Diaspora Film – Winner USD 200

●Best Actor/Actress – Winner USD 200

HOW DO I SUBMIT MY FILM?: Click on the Film Freeway BIOSKOP! Zimbabwe Short Film competition link below, click the submit button and fill in the required information. Submissions will be open from 21 May 2024 until Saturday 20 July 2024 1159PM CAT.

Link: https://filmfreeway.com/TheEuropeanFilmFestivalZimbabwe

For More information contact The Festival Team at  eurofilmfestivalzw@gmail.com