jaki's blog

Since I've been engulfed in Swahili over the last few years, I've heard it in some unexpected places. After connecting cable TV in my house in Zanzibar, I'm watching movies I never would have otherwise, and Swahili seems to be the 'go-to' foreign/ethnic/tribal language in Hollywood. It's an interesting use of a language once known as the 'language of civilization' or 'Kiungwana'. Read more »

Nick Broomfield, Louis Massiah, Paul Miller, Heidi Lobato and Barry Braverman sat down with ZIFF's contestants for the practice-run of the Pitching Tree final. 

If you want to make your film, here are some tips from the judges to knock out your industry audience.  Read more »

Donall McCusker is an Oscar-winning film producer, who most recently worked with director Kathryn Bigelow on Iraq war film The Hurt Locker. He had a chat with ZIFF attendees today about what it takes to make a film.

Here are a few points he raised: Read more »

Fambul Tok was not an easy documentary to watch at 9:30 in the morning. Especially following the Australian children's short Minnie Loves Junior. The odd programming only made the subject of life in post-civil war Sierra Leone more brutal to witness, but it's compelling opening sequence kept me seated in the House of Wonders.  Read more »

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