European Union Film contest crowns winner

Dar es Salaam. Filmmaker Taragwa Anthony over the weekend emerged winner of the inaugural European Youth Film Competition 2017 at a grand finale held at the National Museum in Dar es Salaam.

His animation short film ‘Shida za Uani’ beat the other four films  to win the first prize worth Sh 7 million, while ‘Tone’ by Rashid Songoro became second taking home prizes worth Sh 5 million.

Fred Feruzi’s Watoto Wangu won the best thematic film while a documentary ‘Watu na Samak’i by Wambura Mwikabe won the People’s Choice Award.

Speaking to The Citizen after he was declared winner Taragwa Anthony said there was everything to look forward to in the film industry despite facing myriad of challenges

The European Youth Film Competition was launched some three months ago attracting over 128 entries that battled in making a short film under the theme ‘Population Growth: a development challenge or opportunity?

 According to organisers the general objective of the competition was to facilitate a competition that will spark dialogue among youth on the impact of overpopulation in development; as well as support development youth-led agenda through art and creativity.

At hand to announce the winner of the contest the Head of the EU Delegation to Tanzania, Roeland van de Geer said it was a tight contest that was rich with creativity.

 “The movies that made it to the Top Five were selected according to compliance with the theme, creativity, video quality and compliance to the rules of submission. Following a three day workshop which covered the facts, figures and implications of population growth in Tanzania and all elements of film making from pre – to post-production, the contestants were well prepared to face the challenge of capturing their thoughts on the topic on film,” said Roeland van de Geer.

He added: The workshop demonstrated that the high population growth in Tanzania provides for opportunities but also poses significant challenges, for example for social services such as health, education as well as infrastructure.'

The contest was organized by the delegation of the European Union to Tanzania, the East African Community, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Embassy of France, the Alliance Française, British Council, and in collaboration with the Tanzania Film Board.