The International Film Festival of Zambia (IFFoZ) was inaugurated on 28th October 2006 in Lusaka at Alliance Francaise. The main partners who made 2006 IFFoZ a great success include Vilole Images Productions (VIP), the Germany Embassy, Alliance Francaise, Zambian National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and Zambia Airways.

It with was a fundamental objective to promote the local film industry to an internationally acceptable level, to enhance filmmaking skills and encourage cultural exchange, in the process of which would increase employment opportunities.

After the 2006 festival, IFFoZ felt the need to give Zambian filmmakers a chance to make more local films before proceeding to host the 2nd festival. Being a Zambian festival it would only be fare for the Zambian audience to watch more local products too. 2008 festival looks at having more entries from Zambia so as to promote local productions.

The vision of IFFoZ is to establish a permanent body of filmmakers and other expert hands who will annually organize the hosting of the film festival thus ensuring the growth, development and improved trade in film and television products in and of Zambia. The 2008, International Film Festival of Zambia (IFFoZ), theme is “EMBRACE HUMAN RIGHTS, FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN EXPLOITATION!” With the inhuman activities going on around the world and Africa, IFFoZ would like to take the opportunity and bring to its audience movies that matter. This would also help drive local filmmakers to address local issues through video/film as the industry develops.

The entire programme will run over a period of 9 days, commencing on the 05th September through the week ending 13th September 2008. Within these days we are planning on training workshops, a filmmaker’s and partner’s conference/forum, public film-screenings, film and other arts exhibitions, and a children’s fun day as a community outreach component. IFFoZ also wish to award deserving artists.

The programme includes pitching for Zambian filmmakers only. This is a Zambian and Finnish Embassy Project Development partnership capacity building programme that has lined us in five provinces target filmmakers. Selected concepts will compete at the international film festival of Zambia.

The Germany Embassy, Alliance Francaise, Vilole Images Productions (VIP), Finnish Embassy, Mr. Danny Owusu and DW-Akademie have been really supportive to IFFoZ and that is highly appreciated. “IFFoZ in partnership with VIP will continue to enhance skills, appreciate, celebrate and promote/exhibit the talent and accomplishments of the Zambian film industry with all the integrity and credibility possible”.

Over the past few years the Zambian Film industry has developed keen interest in local products that despite lack of financial support, independent Producers have taken an inspiring spirit of producing local products with very low or no budgets at all. This is a very excellent gesture that deserves to be supported by both private sector and government if the industry has to flourish in years to come.

As much as IFFoZ appreciates and looks forward to screening films from every nation, IFFoZ is confident that at this year’s festival at least more than 5 Zambian films would be screened plus documentaries and shorts. Through screenings from various backgrounds and nationalities rich information that includes human rights is passed on. The choice of a human rights theme for the year 2008 is to remind ourselves on how vital it is for us as human beings to embrace human rights every time.

Zambia is a very blessed peaceful country, we hope through screenings of human rights film from other nations, our audience and participants could see through the camera eye the human rights really issues and how brethrens suffer out there.

IFFoZ invites all filmmakers, producer; directors enter their human rights festivals, short films and documentaries to the address below. All find attached the entry form Deadline for entry is Wednesday, 30th July 2008.

For further information please contact:

The Festival Coordinator
International Film Festival of Zambia
P.O.BOX 50735
Ridgeway
LUSAKA
ZAMBIA 10101

Email: iffozfest2008@gmail.com