EuroFilmFestZW Announces 2023 Finalists for BIOSKOP Short Film Contest

The European Film Festival Zimbabwe is delighted to unveil the finalists for the highly anticipated BIOSKOP Short Film Contest 2023. This year, we received an impressive 55 submissions, marking a significant increase from the previous year, highlighting the growing interest and enthusiasm within the Zimbabwean film industry.

One of the most exciting developments this year has been the increased participation of female producers and directors, showcasing the diverse talents within the industry and promoting gender equality in filmmaking.

While the competition is open to Zimbabweans in Zimbabwe, across Africa, and Europe, we were thrilled to receive submissions from Zimbabweans residing in Asia and America, underscoring the global reach and appeal of the BIOSKOP Short Film Contest.

The winners of this year’s competition will be announced during exclusive cocktail events in Harare on October 20th and Bulawayo on October 26th, respectively. Additionally, the winning film will be screened during these events. We extend a warm invitation to all shortlisted filmmakers to join us at these prestigious gatherings.

BEST NARRATIVE Finalists:

1. Daughter of the Soil

2. My Name is My Name

3. Mann Friday – Fight for Me

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Finalists:

1. Daughter of the Soil

2. Ruka

3. Mann Friday – Fight for Me

BEST SOUND EDITING Finalists:

1. My Name is My Name

2. Daughter of the Soil

3. Action Raj

BEST DOCUMENTARY Finalists:

1. Stella Chiweshe Interview

2. Create Zim – Art Across Cities

3. My Name is Patience

BEST DIASPORA Finalists:

1. Becoming Who I Am

2. Matter More For Sis

3. Enigma Gems

European Film Festival Zimbabwe Coordinator Gilmore Tee expressed his excitement, stating, “We are extremely excited about the increase in submissions this year. The BIOSKOP Short Film Competition is one of the most intriguing programs we have with the European Film Festival Zimbabwe. We get to get an insight into Zimbabwean lives through film, and we need to applaud the Zimbabwean filmmakers for such an outstanding job in telling our stories as a people. Congratulations to all shortlisted films; the winners will be announced on the 20th of October in Harare and 26th of October in Bulawayo, respectively.”

Prosper Kunyetu, a member of the BIOSKOP Jury for 2023, shared his thoughts on the submissions: “I was honored to be invited to serve as a judge for the 2023 BIOSKOP short film competition. As a past participant and award winner, I had high expectations for the submissions, and I was not disappointed. The films were diverse in genre and style, and they represented a wide range of perspectives and voices. I was particularly pleased to see a significant increase in participation by women directors this year. While the quality of the films varied, I was impressed by the overall creativity and passion of the filmmakers. There were many outstanding films, and the jury found it difficult to choose the nominees. I would like to commend all of the filmmakers who submitted their films to the competition. Your work is an inspiration, and I look forward to seeing what you create in the future.”

The European Film Festival Zimbabwe 2023 BIOSKOP Short Film Contest promises to be a celebration of creativity and talent, showcasing the best of Zimbabwean and international filmmaking. We eagerly anticipate the announcement of the winners and the opportunity to witness the remarkable stories they have crafted on the big screen.

Press release