By Khumbulani Muleya Yaza Africa has been named the official media partner for the International Images Film Festival for Women (IIFF).
The festival returns for its 19th edition and will run from November 23 to November 26 in Harare at Alliance Francaise and B2C under the directorship of acclaimed director and writer Tsitsi Dangarembga.
Africa New Media Group (ANMG) revealed this in a statement.
Yaza is the first women’s media brand in Africa to be created in Africa with local editors and writers.
This year’s festival runs under the theme Women at Crossroads gives filmmakers an opportunity to explore the tough choices women are faced with in today’s world and how they can best make decisions that work for them and society.
IIFF is an international festival returning to the world stage after the Covid-19 pandemic to inspire positive images of women, interrogate, debate, and celebrate the world of women through film.
The event gives women a platform to tell their own stories and shape the narrative of what it means to be an African woman.
Dangarembga is keen on using the event to raise more awareness on such issues.
“The IIIF is intentional about providing a platform for African women to tell their stories,” she said.
“This is crucial because they are faced with difficult choices and it’s important to talk about these issues and bring that into the public consciousness.
“That’s why we are excited to work with partners like Yaza who share in this vision and will help us bring our message and our festival to audiences across Africa and the world.”
Agnes Amondi, the principal in charge of the project for Yaza Africa added: “Now more than ever, black women want to tell their own stories and that’s why this partnership with the International Images Film Festival is important to us.”
“We are giving them the chance to talk about the issues they care about, and we are more than delighted to do that.”
“We will have a series of articles including exclusive interviews with guests and film directors in the run-up to the event, during and after the event so anyone who wants more information about the festival should visit Yaza Africa and watch our socials. We will be live at the event as well.”