In the softly lit hall of Alliance Française in Dar es Salaam, a crowd of over seventy individuals gathers with palpable anticipation to watch EONII - a groundbreaking Tanzanian science-fiction film. The film is being screened on the opening night of the #TeamEurope-supported 'ZIFF Goes Mainland,' a film festival program designed to promote African and European storytelling, which is a spinoff of ZIFF itself.

Since its premiere in June 2023, EONII has garnered praise from critics and audiences alike for its originality and its unique African perspective. Recently, it won the best film at the ZIFF awards.

Eddie Mzale, the film’s director, is proud of this success and is enthusiastic to be part of what he calls the fast-evolving and creatively changing landscape of the Tanzanian film industry.

“Generally, I think the industry is going pretty well; it’s progressing, so I am actually happy to be part of this because you feel you are part of that movement that inspires people to think outside the box,” said Mzale, during an interview with the EU Delegation to Tanzania and the East African Community.

Mzale acknowledges that before the making of EONII, he recognized that sci-fi was a genre largely unexplored not just in Tanzania but across Africa as a whole.

“It’s slowly getting there, but the genre is still not widely pursued due mainly to the technical challenges, such as the need for skilled VFX personnel, which is lacking,” he explained.

This challenge was a window of opportunity for Mzale. He believes his idea was picked and invested in due to the novelty factor and the rarity of sci-fi films in Tanzania, which made it easier for everyone to get on board and trust his vision.

ZIFF Opening Night Screening

EONII had the honor of being the first film screened at the third edition of ZIFF Goes Mainland. This program, now in its third year and supported by the European Union and its Member States, aims to promote cultural exchange through films. It highlights ZIFF-winning movies and European cultural films.

EU Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms. Christine Grau, shared that #TeamEurope was proud to partner with ZIFF and other stakeholders to promote cultural activities in Tanzania, which are an important aspect of a vibrant society.

“ZIFF has collaborated with European cultural institutions in many of its projects. We have seen training workshops, sponsored ZIFF programs, and also observed co-production opportunities. We are very happy that Europe has contributed to the growth of the festival beyond the screening of individual films,” contended Ambassador Grau.

Aside from Dar es Salaam, this year’s "ZIFF Goes Mainland" will also have screenings in the cities of Morogoro and Bagamoyo, targeting cultural institutions and universities with a focus on students to enhance the program's educational and cultural impact. After each screening, there will be film analysis and discussions.

“We wanted post-viewing discussions to take place because we felt that the actual cultural exchange was not really happening, and we weren’t sure how much impact the films were having,” said Prof. Martin Mhando, the outgoing ZIFF Director.

Mzale expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to have 'EONII' featured on opening night and appreciated the platform's role in giving exposure to filmmakers.

“I like my work to be seen by people. I want people to appreciate the story, to acknowledge that there are people out there who really want to tell stories,” he concluded.