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Lifestyle Uganda > Blog > Entertainment > Ugandan Film on Janani Luwum to Open 2025 Zanzibar International Film Festival
EntertainmentLatest Movie & Trailers

Ugandan Film on Janani Luwum to Open 2025 Zanzibar International Film Festival

Explore the courage of Janani Luwum in Janani: The Last Stand, opening ZIFF 2025. A moving Ugandan biopic honoring resistance under Idi Amin. Watch the story unfold.

Last updated: 15th June 2025 1:55 pm
By
Jacob Mugwana
ByJacob Mugwana
Online Editor
An aspiring international media journalist with experience at Lifestyle Uganda, I bring a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for trends in digital media and...
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Janani Luwum film to headline 2025 Zanzibar Festival.
Peter Odeke acting as Archbishop Janani Luwum. Photo/Instagram/cinemaug256
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The 2025 Zanzibar International Film Festival will open with Janani: The Last Stand, a Ugandan biopic about Archbishop Janani Luwum, who was killed in 1977 after standing up to Idi Amin’s brutal regime.

The film, directed by Ugandan filmmaker Matt Bish, is the centerpiece of this year’s festival, which runs from June 25 to 29 in Stone Town. The theme: Where Hope Takes Root.

Other Ugandan projects are also in the spotlight. In the short film category are Sweet Heist by Ali Kisitu and Boy No Fear by Jonathan Curtiss. The TV drama Damalie by Doreen Mirembe and the documentary Memories of Love Returned by Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, an American-Ugandan actor and playwright, are also among those selected.

Each entry reflects a different aspect of Uganda’s creative force—from short thrillers to slow-burning drama and personal, memory-driven documentary.

ZIFF 2025 to open with Uganda’s Janani: The Last Stand.
Photo/courtesy

ZIFF Festival Director Hatibu Madudu said the event has grown steadily since it launched nearly three decades ago.

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“This year we celebrate 28 years of ZIFF’s journey,” he said at a recent press briefing. “What began in 1997 as a local celebration of film has grown into the largest cultural gathering of its kind in East Africa and the Indian Ocean world.”

The festival received more than 430 submissions from around the globe. Of those, 174 came from East Africa. Organizers say the event continues to attract filmmakers from the so-called “Dhow Countries”—a region that includes parts of Southeast Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, and the Indian Ocean islands.

ZIFF CEO Joseph Mwale said the festival’s reach goes far beyond screening films.

“Through village panoramas, dhow races, women’s beach soccer, arts platforms, and public forums, ZIFF engages over 200,000 people annually,” he said. “Our aim is to make cinema accessible and meaningful to all.”

Mwale said the festival would also continue its outreach programming, especially in rural areas, and maintain discussions that address social issues. “We remain committed to creating space for dialogue on pressing social issues… film is a vehicle for education, empathy, and transformation.”

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Goethe-Institut Tanzania Director Mpangi Otte, speaking at the same event, said this year’s theme is not just about optimism.

“‘Where Hope Takes Root’ is more than a slogan,” he said. “It reminds us that films are not just entertainment—they are testimonies of struggle, resilience, and redemption. Even in the darkest times, cinema helps us remember that hope is always possible.”

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Otte urged young people to take advantage of ZIFF’s creative and networking opportunities in what he called “the picturesque setting of Zanzibar.”

This year’s competition includes awards for Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Short Film or Animation, and Best Zanzibar Film. There are also acting categories, with special recognition for talent in Tanzanian TV drama.

As the festival nears, expectations are rising. The focus, organizers say, remains on storytelling that connects across borders—and the power of film to reflect, challenge, and inspire.

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ByJacob Mugwana
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An aspiring international media journalist with experience at Lifestyle Uganda, I bring a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for trends in digital media and fashion. As a two-time nominee for the Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards in 2014 and 2015, I’m committed to blending creativity with journalistic rigor. Alongside my journalism work, I support businesses by offering web design and development services, along with strategic advice to enhance their social media presence and engagement. WhatsApp me on +256781873083.
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