Press release for the International Images Film Festival for Women 2023

The 20th edition of the International Images Film Festival for Women (IIFF) takes place from November 28 to December 2, 2023, in Harare, and from December 8 to 10 in Bulawayo.

The IIFF 2023 festival theme is “Women of Hope”. The theme portrays stories of women who make choices about the paths they will take at the crossroads of their lives, and go on to embark on journeys down these paths in search of fulfillment for themselves and their societies. “Women of Hope” are women who choose an optimistic future over fear. Such women work to realize their many different and complex dreams in ways that benefit them and the society. IIFF believes that hope for humankind can only be realized when individuals work to achieve goals that include, but at the same time, go beyond the self. IIFF 2023 continues its tradition of celebrating global cinema that tells women’s stories. Films from South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria and Algeria to USA, France, Spain, Australia, India, the Netherlands and beyond, present a diverse and exciting programme of long and short fiction films and documentaries.

The festival opens with a powerful new perspective on African realities, the 117-minute feature "NOME" (directed by Sana Na N’Hada, Guinea Bissau,2023). NOME tells the story of a young man who joins a freedom movement to free his country and people from tyranny. He survives to witness the outcome of their independence.

The festival offers a series of masterclasses that present an opportunity to practicing and aspiring filmmakers to improve their storytelling and production skills. Zanele Mthembu, the chairwoman of Sisters Working in Film and TV(SWIFT) in South Africa, leads the pitching masterclass. This masterclass provides inside knowledge of how to sell your film project to broadcasters, producers and financiers. IIFF 2023’s directing masterclass is led by Sana Na N’Hada, director of Nome, the opening film. The West African director N’Hada has directed 5 Bissau-Guinean centred films and will impart his expert knowledge to local film practitioners. The festival’s third masterclass, in producing, is led by the prize-winning producer Carla Sospedra from Spain. This masterclass guides participants through the processes involved, from a film’s inception to its successful completion.

The festival is presented by the Institute of Creative Arts for Progress in Africa (ICAPA) Trust. ICAPA Trust advocates for gender equality in the African film and TV industry, and in African society. This year the festival is made possible through the financial support from Culture Fund through the Creative Actions 2 funded by the European Union in Zimbabwe.

Films can be seen at the following venues: Batanai Gardens B2C Corner Jason Moyo and First Street, Alliance Francaise, 328 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Dzivarasekwa Community Hall 1 and Hatcliffe Community Centre Hall. Screenings run from 11:30 AM to 6:30 PM.

The admission is free to the public

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