Dar es Salaam, Tanzania-31, July-2017: The European Youth Film Competition 2017 today announces the best films that have made it to the Top 15. The competiton is organized by the Delegation of the European Union to the United Republic of Tanzania and the East African Community, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Embassy of France, the Alliance Française, British Council, and in close cooperation with the Tanzania Film Board.

The competition received 128 entries out of which 35 participants were selected to enter the competition. After a three day workshop which was attended by 32 contestants, they were given a month to produce their films. By 25 July, which was the deadline for submission, 23 films were submitted in time for the selection of the Top 15 films.   

The Head of the EU Delegation to Tanzania, Ambassador Roeland van de Geer has said  "I am happy to learn that 23 out of the 32 participants were able to hand in their films in time. They have worked hard and their work has produced very stimulating and excellent products. I have heard the screening and selection process was marked by intensive and interesting discussions by the judges; believe me, you also got them thinking. However, it is a competition; we could only select a few to continue.”

16 films have made it to the Top 15 (due to a tie in scores) after an evaluation by a panel of judges made up of Mr Richard Ndunguru, Mr Issa Mbura, Mr Amil Shivji, Mr Deepesh  Shapriya, and a guest judge Ms Tulanana Buhohela. The films are attached.

The Top 15 films will be screened around Dar es Salaam at no cost to the general public who will be given a chance to vote for their favourite film.

The Screening is scheduled for screening at Biafra Grounds, Mbagala Zakheim, Mwembe Yanga and Alliance Francaise. Five films will be selected to compete for the finals which will be held in September.

The winning film will win prizes worth Tshs 7 million, while the first runner up will win prizes worth Tshs 5million and the second runner-up will win prizes worth Tshs 3 million. There will be other prizes in different categories.

In order to vote for their favorite film, which will win the category of 'People's Choice', the audience will send a SMS with a code for each movie to the number 0746520610 and the sender will receive a message thanking him/her for voting.