IIFF 2025: MUCH DONE WITH PRACTICALLY NOTHING

The 22nd edition of the International Images Film Festival for Women (IIFF) was held under the theme ‘Women Make The World A Better Place’ from 22-26 August in Harare. This year’s theme was chosen to inspire women too display agency in their everyday lives at all times in order to create opportunities for women to make the world a better place.

Held annually, the festival screens films about women, whether made by women or any other gender. The festivals objective is to increase women's agency by screening films in which women in Zimbabwe can observe other women displaying agency and reaching their goals. IIFF also provides a platform for Zimbabwean women filmmakers to network and find support for their work in the industry. This year’s theme was chosen to inspire women in their everyday lives, in order to contribute to making the world a better place.

Guests having fun at the IIFF 2025 opening

The IIFF 2025 opening film Hanami (Cape Verde, Switzerland, Portugal 2024) was screened courtesy of the Swiss Embassy at Nhaka Gallery, where a speech from Head of Cooperation Mr. Stefano Berti at the Embassy of Switzerland began the evening's proceedings. Ms Helen Matsvisi, the proprietor of Nhaka Gallery, also addressed the guests.

Mr. Stefano Berti, Head of Cooperation, and Richard Nyamanhindi, Programme Officer, from the Embassy of Switzerland, with Mr Farai Mpfunya

Fifteen films from sixteen different countries were exhibited at four venues: the Alliance Francaise, Dzivarasekwa Community Hall, National Gallery of Zimbabwe and Nhaka Gallery. With a programme much reduced from the usual sixty films due to changes in the funding profile. IIFF 2025 nevertheless enjoyed a viewership of several hundred attendees. These included local and international filmmakers and art practitioners, members of the public, corporate executives, members of the diplomatic corps and government officials, as well as two international filmmakers whose works were programmed.

Audience with Spanish guests at the Dzivarasekwa Community Hall 

Siobhan Cleary, who attended the festival from the Republic of Ireland, presented a Documentary Production Masterclass to a full house. During her sessions Cleary screened The Great Green Wall (Republic of Ireland, 2019), along with two of her own short documentaries, We Can (2023) and Women Ending The Era Of Fossil Fuels (2024), which were both produced by her production house Rebel Sisters.

The now traditional IIFF masterclasses were very popular again this year.

A Business of Film Masterclass was held by Spanish producer Alba Bosch, who after the masterclass also screened the film Los Tortugas (The Exiles, Spain 2024), which she co-produced. The afternoon film screening enjoyed a full house, as the Embassy of Spain had mobilized their community for the screening.

The closing ceremony, held at the Alliance Francaise marked the conclusion of a memorable and successful 22nd edition of the festival. The UNESCO Regional Advisor for Culture Elena Constantinou gave a speech commending IIFF's work in giving women a platform to share their stories with the world. This year’s film curator, Ms Tafadzwa Chovhuvhu, also gave a speech which highlighted her process in selecting the films. MCs for the evening were IIFF staff members Angeline Madyara and Rumbidzai Musiiwa. Attendees at the closing ceremony audiences were entertained by Zimbabwean master storyteller Ignatious Mabasa and two women Djs Nandipha and Buhle.

IIFF 2025 film curator, Tafadzwa Chovuchovu (right) with other IIFF guests

As in previous years, IIFF 2025 engaged the services of women to work temporarily as venue managers, mobilisers and hosts during the festival. The 2025 was coordinated by young women under the guidance of festival founder Ms Tsitsi Dangarembga. The young women worked in the areas of festival direction, programming, publicity and event management.

IIFF 2025 is grateful to The Embassy of the Republic of Ireland in Pretoria who supported the Documentary Production Masterclass and the festival, to the Embassy of Switzerland for hosting the opening film and reception, and to the Spanish Embassy who sponsored the Business of Film Masterclass, as well as to the Japanese Embassy who provided a film from their catalogue. Thanks are also due to Alliance Francaise for the use of their cinema. The festival was also pleased to work, for the first time, with retail liquor merchant Elixir who catered food and drinks at the opening ceremony.