Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF)
Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) takes place Late Jun - early Jul 2027 (dates TBA; 2026 edition ran Jun 24 - 28) in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The dress code is Light tropical clothing with a layer for evening open-air screenings; modest dress off the festival grounds. Typical cost ranges from 250 to 700 EUR per person.
The largest film and arts festival in East Africa, screening cinema from the Indian Ocean region and beyond amid Stone Town's historic architecture, crowned by open-air shows in the Old Fort amphitheatre. It pairs its Dhow Awards competition with music and community programmes. Watching African cinema under the stars in a 17th-century fort is the draw.
- When
- Late Jun - early Jul 2027 (dates TBA; 2026 edition ran Jun 24 - 28)
- Where
- Zanzibar, Tanzania
- Dress code
- Light tropical clothing with a layer for evening open-air screenings; modest dress off the festival grounds.
- Cost
- Typical cost ranges from 250 to 700 EUR per person.
- Weather
- 27 - 31C, warm and sunny dry season with pleasant evenings
- When to book
- Passes bought on-site or via the festival; book Stone Town hotels a month or more out for the dry-season peak
- Getting there
- ZNZ (Zanzibar), 15 min to Stone Town
- Where to stay
- Park Hyatt Zanzibar, Emerson Spice (boutique), Maru Maru Hotel (value)
- Official site
- https://www.ziff.or.tz/
How to attend
Buy affordable day or festival passes at the Old Fort box office or via ziff.or.tz; many community and outdoor screenings are low-cost or free. Stay in or near Stone Town and check the programme on the official site once dates confirm. Fully open to the public.
There is no online sale - day and festival passes are bought in person at the Old Fort box office in Stone Town during the festival.
Insider tip
The open-air amphitheatre screenings inside the Old Fort after sunset are the essence of ZIFF - arrive early and sit high for the sea breeze.
Get inside Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF)
Booking matters here: passes bought on-site or via the festival; book Stone Town hotels a month or more out for the dry-season peak. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 573 more events across the season.
Free while in beta. One email when your invitation is ready, nothing else.