The European Film Festival Zimbabwe has announced the shortlist for the 2026 BIOSKOP! Short Film Competition, with filmmakers competing across six award categories following 80 submissions celebrating the diversity of Zimbabwean storytelling. The winners will be announced on Friday, 30 October, at 17:00 at Alliance Française Harare, during the festival’s closing day programme. Held under the theme The Best of Zimbabwean Short Film, BIOSKOP! is a key part of the festival’s commitment to showcasing local filmmaking talent alongside international cinema. This year’s submissions span narrative film, documentary, science fiction, animation and experimental approaches, including AI generated entries, reflecting the range of ideas and techniques being explored by Zimbabwean creatives.
The 2026 awards will recognise achievement in Best Narrative, Best Documentary, Best Cinematography, Best Actor or Actress, Best Sound Editing and the Most Promising Filmmaker Award, sponsored by Monzyice Creations. In the Best Narrative category, the finalists are God Sleeps on Sundays by Naishe Nyamubaya, Chimu na Ranga by Jonathan Samukange and Moza by Leo Ericks Jakata. The Best Documentary shortlist features Zimbabwe on a Dish by Thembani Melusi Phakathi, Bold by Nicole Panashe, The Houses She Has Built by Clivet Chinake and The Waste Carpenter by Vincent Takudzwa Dzivarinyenga.
The Best Cinematography award will be contested by Patient Zero and Chimu na Ranga, both by Jonathan Samukange, and God Sleeps on Sundays by Naishe Nyamubaya. The nominees for Best Actor or Actress are Alex Muziyani for his role as Tony in Moza, Leroy Siyafa for his portrayal of James in God Sleeps on Sundays, and Gamuchirayi Mukwakwamu for playing Shamiso in Moza.
For Best Sound Editing, the shortlisted films are The Last Passenger, directed by Imaniii None, RoundAbout by Tinashe Dorobeni and God Sleeps on Sundays by Naishe Nyamubaya. The Most Promising Filmmaker Award will recognise either Vincent Takudzwa Dzivarinyenga for The Waste Carpenter or Clivet Chinake for The Houses She Has Built. The finalists will be assessed by a three member jury bringing together Zimbabwean and international experience in film production, performance and industry development. The panel includes Mongolian director and producer Nyamdulam Tsedevsuren, Festival Director of the European Film Festival in Mongolia since 2026 and co founder of Short Film Lab Mongolia, an initiative supporting emerging filmmakers.
She is joined by Zimbabwean actress and filmmaker Tendaiishe Chitima, who starred in Cook Off, the first Zimbabwean feature film on Netflix, and appeared alongside Viola Davis in Amazon Prime Video’s G20. Completing the panel is Harare based director and cinematographer Prosper Kunyetu, a former BIOSKOP! competition winner whose work spans documentaries, short films, commercials and music videos.
Hosted by Rutendo Mutsamwira, the awards ceremony will include screenings of the winning films followed by the presentation of awards. The event offers audiences an opportunity not only to discover this year’s recognised films, but also to engage with the filmmakers and performances shaping Zimbabwe’s contemporary screen culture. Through BIOSKOP!, the European Film Festival Zimbabwe provides a platform for local filmmakers to reach new audiences, receive recognition for their craft and connect with a broader film community. The competition’s awards spotlight achievements in storytelling and filmmaking while drawing attention to emerging talent and the range of creative work being produced in Zimbabwe.
The European Film Festival Zimbabwe runs from 28 to 30 October 2026 and is hosted by the European Union in partnership with EU Member States. Festival admission is free and open to all, although selected activities have limited places and require registration.
