U.S. EMBASSY PARTNERS WITH ZANZIBAR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (ZIFF) ON CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Virginia Blaser (left) and Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) Director Fabrizio Colombo (right) signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam. The MOU formalizes a partnership that will bring American film director Judd Ehrlich and American film expert Debra Zimmerman to Tanzania from July 9-16, 2017 to participate in ZIFF’s 20th annual event. (Photo: U.S. Embassy Courtesy)

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Virginia Blaser (left) handing over the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) Director Fabrizio Colombo (right). The MOU formalizes a partnership that will bring American film director Judd Ehrlich and American film expert Debra Zimmerman to Tanzania from July 9-16, 2017 to participate in ZIFF’s 20th annual event. (Photo: U.S. Embassy Courtesy)

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Virginia Blaser (left) listening to Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) Director Fabrizio Colombo (right) answering questions from journalists about ZIFF’s partnership with the U.S. Embassy. The partnership will bring American film director Judd Ehrlich and American film expert Debra Zimmerman to Tanzania from July 9-16, 2017 for a week-long cultural exchange program. (Photo: U.S. Embassy Courtesy)

U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam TANZANIA

May 17, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA. On May 17, the U.S. Embassy formalized its partnership with the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a week-long cultural exchange program that will bring American film director Judd Ehrlich and American film expert Debra Zimmerman to Tanzania from July 9-16, 2017.  U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Virginia Blaser and ZIFF Director Fabrizio Colombo signed the MOU.  

Judd Ehrlich is the director of the documentary Keepers of the Game, which follows a team of Native American girls as they seek to win a regional championship in the sport of lacrosse, traditionally reserved for men and boys.  Debra Zimmerman is a film expert and the Executive Director of Women Make Movies, an organization dedicated to increasing access and opportunities for female filmmakers.

Through the partnership with ZIFF, Ehrlich and Zimmerman will work directly with emerging Zanzibari filmmakers during the 20th annual film festival in Zanzibar.  They will conduct a series of workshops on documentary filmmaking, and the marketing and distribution of films, as well as hold a workshop specifically for women in the film industry.  

Speaking at the MOU signing event, Chargé Blaser said, “We are pleased to build on our ongoing support for the Zanzibari people through this cultural exchange program.  Together we will provide an opportunity for American and Zanzibari filmmakers to exchange ideas and discuss the craft of filmmaking and its use as a vehicle for addressing a variety of issues that affect society.”

To request more information, please call the U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam Press Office at Tel: +255 22 229-4000 or email: DPO@state.gov.