Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]
THE European Film Festival Zimbabwe (EuroFilmFestZW) will this year take its screenings to three Harare cultural venues, while actress and filmmaker Tendaiishe Chitima has been named among the adjudicators for the 2026 BIOSKOP! Zimbabwe Short Film Competition.
Running from 28 to 30 October, the festival will be hosted at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe German Society and Alliance Française, bringing together film enthusiasts and creatives to celebrate storytelling across cultures.
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe will host the opening day on 28 October, followed by the Zimbabwe German Society on 29 October, before the festival concludes at Alliance Française on 30 October.
The organisers said the programme would use the three venues to showcase films that inspire dialogue, broaden perspectives and explore the connections between people from different cultural backgrounds.
“Three days. Three venues. One celebration of the stories that connect us,” the organisers said.
The festival is supported by several European diplomatic missions and cultural institutions, including the embassies of the Netherlands, Italy, Ireland, Sweden, France, Spain, Greece and Germany.
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and Goethe Zentrum Harare, also known as the Zimbabwe German Society, are among the institutions associated with the event.
Meanwhile, Chitima’s appointment to the BIOSKOP! Zimbabwe Short Film Competition jury brings experience from both acting and filmmaking to the annual showcase of local talent.
She rose to prominence through her role in the award-winning Zimbabwean film Cook Off, which became the first Zimbabwean feature film to stream on Netflix. She also appeared alongside American actress Viola Davis in the action thriller G20, released on Amazon Prime Video.
Her involvement in the competition comes as Zimbabwean filmmakers continue to explore opportunities to showcase their work locally and internationally.
Running under the theme “Celebrating the Best of Zimbabwean Short Film”, the BIOSKOP! competition seeks to recognise and reward filmmakers from Zimbabwe and the diaspora.
Categories include Best Narrative, Best Documentary, Best Sound Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Actor/Actress and Best Diaspora Narrative.
Winners will receive trophies and cash prizes, with the awards recognising achievements in different aspects of short-film production.
The competition provides a platform for emerging and established filmmakers to showcase their creativity while contributing to the growth of Zimbabwe’s film industry.
The festival’s multi-venue programme and the short-film competition underline EuroFilmFestZW’s focus on promoting cinema as a platform for cultural exchange and celebrating Zimbabwean storytelling.
Follow on X: @MbuleloMpofu
