
TAFF LAUNCHES AWAFFEST IN TANZANIA
The African Film Festival (TAFF) successfully launched African Women Arts & Film Festival (AWAFFEST) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. AWAFFEST was created to celebrate and encourage women in the fields of arts and filmmaking. The festival was held in March to celebrate the International Women’s Month.
AWAFFEST opened with screening short films to a capacity crowd at Mlimani City Mall Century Cinemax Theater. The reception of the new festival was impressive with quite diverse crowd and various age groups. The festival continued with Arts Exhibition at the Village Museum, and Acting Workshop by Dr. Mona Mwakalinga, Film & Media Professor, University of Dar es Salaam.

AWAFFEST HONORARY AWARDS
The honorary awards given at AWAFFEST were: Leadership, Legendary, Pioneers, and Outstanding Achievement Awards. We are proud of these hardworking women.
LEADERSHIP AWARD
HON. DR. TULIA ACKSON MWANSASU
Deputy Speaker, National Assembly of Tanzania
PIONEER AWARD
MUSOLA CATHERINE KASEKETI
Filmmaker and human rights activist.
First Zambian female professional film director.
LEGEND AWARD
KHADIJA OMAR KOPA
Tanzanian Music Icon
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM
GENEVIVE NNAJI
Nigerian Actress, Producer, Director
Winners of the Films Category include:
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE
HEAVEN ON MY MIND (NIGERIA)
BEST NARRATIVE SHORT
SUPER MAMA (TANZANIA)
BEST PRODUCER
JULIET IBRAHIM (GHANA)
BEST DIRECTOR
STEPHANIE OKEREKE LINUS (NIGERIA)
BEST SCRIPT WRITER
HAWA ALIOU N'DIAYE (MALI)
BEST ACTRESS
JUDITH AUDU (NIGERIA)
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
SENS DESSUS DESSOUS (GABON)
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
MEMORY OF MISSIONARIES (CONGO)
The complete list of nominees and winners can be found at AWAFFEST website: www.awaffest.org.

WHY TANZANIA?
AWAFFEST was designed to be a regional festival. Meaning that it would rotate between the five regions of Africa, starting with West Africa – Nigeria. But due to the recently concluded elections we could not make adequate preparations so we decided to launch it in Tanzania. The positive response and reception of the new festival in Dar es Salaam are evidence of good decision made by our Team. Yvonne Cherrie was named the Director of AWAFFEST. We have shifted the positive energy to the preparation of the upcoming festival in Dallas from June 27th to June 30th, 2019. We hope that you would come and be a part of it this year.
GET INVOLVED

TAFF welcomes sponsors. An effort such as this is not without strong collaborators and supporters who share our vision. Please contact us if you would like to be a sponsor. TAFF welcomes volunteers. Volunteers are a vital part of The Festival and volunteering comes with many privileges, including ALL ACCESS PASS to all our events. Volunteers have opportunities to help shape the event, making it a memorable experience for our filmmakers and attendees. In exchange for your time, you are given the opportunity to attend ALL Festival events, including After Parties and Behind the Scene activities.
MAMA G PATIENCE OZOKWO TO HOST TAFF 2019
TAFF 2019 will be hosted by Patience Ozokwo - Mama G. Some other notables coming to this year's edition include: Sir Benjamin Onyango (Co-Host); Stella Damasus; Uche Jombo; Emem Isong; Chisom Ozlee; Sir Richard Mofe Damijo; Monalisa; Timothy Conrad; Robert Peters; Kang Quintus; Molatelo; and more.
MEDIA PARTNERS
TAFF is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization that focuses on films addressing Social, Economic, Ethnic, Political, Religious, or Health issues that affect Africa.