Amil Shivji is based in Tanzania, his homeland, as a filmmaker and believes in using images to challenge the powers that be, in particular deconstructing urban facades of development and emphasizing the strength and struggles of marginalized communities. He has set up an independent production house called Kijiweni Productions that is committed to telling local stories with an international standard. He has written, directed and produced short fiction films that have addressed issues from corruption and land grabbing to a commentary on the growing class divide.
They have participated in festivals such as Rotterdam and FESPACO as well as winning accolades including People’s Choice Award in Zanzibar and Best Director in Africa. He premiered his fiction feature, Vuta N’Kuvute (Tug of War)– a story of love and resistance set in British colonial Zanzibar, 1950s at TIFF’21 and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO’21, special Jury prize in Seattle, Golden Tanit in Carthage and is Tanzania’s second ever submission to the Oscars®. His latest documentary The Empty Grave premiered at Berlinale ’24 and has played in over fifty cinemas in Germany. He holds a Masters in Fine arts from York University in Canada.
