Deadline Extended!! Use the CODE: TTFF2024 TO SUBMIT YOUR FILM BY MARCH 15, 2024

Welcome to the Inaugural Taita Taveta Film Festival!
The Festival was founded out of a strong desire to promote Taita Taveta filmmakers and creatives while simultaneously showing off Taita region, its people, talent, and culture through quality cinema. It will be an annual two-day celebration of film and creativity featuring industry panels, peer-to-peer interviews, evening after-parties, live screenings, Q&A’s and overall fun times.

The Festival recognizes and celebrates the best films and documentaries produced over the past five years, selected by an independent jury. Prizes include cash, inclusion in our quarterly events, mentorship, and more.
Entries for the 2024 Taita Taveta Film Festival are now open until Tuesday 6 February 2024, 1700 HRS EAT. We are excited to welcome a multiplicity of stories and a diverse range of filmmakers and content creators from all over the world to enter the contest!

All films in the official selection will compete for awards in the following categories:

Film of the festival
Best Cinematography
Best Edit
Best Narrative

The winning films will be awarded on the final evening of the Festival.

TTFF is looking for independent short films/mini-documentaries of between 5 – 7 minutes from creatives and filmmakers of Taita Taveta County .

Thematic Content
This year's theme is Tourism. In our quest to showcase the county and all its beauty, we are requesting for short films/mini-documentaries surrounding the aforementioned theme. Your film could explore topics in, but not limited to the following areas:
Natural Attractions: Highlight the diverse wildlife, landscapes, and conservation efforts in our world-renowned national park.
Explore the biodiversity and cultural significance of the Taita Hills and indigenous forests.
Suggestion: Feature breathtaking shots of wildlife, flora, and the local communities living in harmony with nature.
Cultural Tourism: Showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Taita and Taveta communities, including traditional dances, music, and rituals. Capture the vibrancy and authenticity of cultural experiences
Cultural Experiences: Provide insights into local cuisine, crafts, and the daily lives of the people.
Adventure and Ecotourism: Highlight outdoor adventures like hiking, rock climbing, and cycling in the county's scenic locations.
Eco-Tourism Initiatives: Showcase sustainable tourism practices and Eco-friendly adventures present in the county.
Historical Sites: Provide a historical narrative of various sites as well as their historical significance with engaging visuals of these ancient sites.
Community-Based Tourism: Showcase community-led tourism initiatives that empower locals and benefit the region.
Conservation Success Stories: Feature individuals and groups working towards the protection and preservation of Taita Taveta's natural resources.
Guideline: Highlight the positive impact of community involvement and conservation efforts on tourism.
Wildlife Conservation: Discuss the challenges and successes in protecting endangered species.
Sustainable Practices: Highlight initiatives and organisations dedicated to environmental sustainability.

Highlight the impact of traditions on conservation or tourism.

Our Standard Festival Participation Agreement (Terms and Conditions), which all submitted films are expected to follow is as follows:

GENERAL RULES AND CONDITIONS

1. Submission Format
Films must be submitted via FilmFreeway.

2. Submission Eligibility
- The Filmmaker is from Taita Taveta County. Taita Taveta transplants in other areas are welcome to submit
- Taita Taveta Film Festival requires that all films have not played to a public audience in Taita Taveta before the festival dates.
- Works-in-progress and documentaries with distribution are accepted.
- All films not in the English or Kiswahili language are required to have subtitles.

3. Submission Fee
All FilmFreeway submissions for TTFF are FREE

4. Selection of Films
Submissions are reviewed and selected under the following criteria:
- Quality of narrative and production values
- Independent nature of the production

5. Notification
Taita Taveta Film Festival endeavours to complete all selection procedures by February 2, 2024 and inform all submitting parties, in writing, if their film has been successful or not, after that time.
Successful submissions will receive a Filmmaker Festival Pack that will include important information on shipping the Film to the Festival, press and publicity, guest accreditation, contact information and how to make the most of participating in the Festival.

6. Festival Screenings
Selected films MUST provide a video file (.mov or .mp4).in order to be screened at the Taita Taveta Film Festival. The film title MUST be clearly labelled on the hard drive.

7. Scheduling
Screenings are scheduled during the Festival at the discretion of Taita Taveta Film Festival. Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the published schedule, Taita Taveta Film Festival reserves the right to make changes at any time for any reason.
No film may be withdrawn from the festival programme after its selection.

GENERAL AGREEMENT OF PARTICIPATION IN TAITA TAVETA FILM FESTIVAL:

By submitting to the Taita Taveta Film Festival I confirm that I have read and accepted the terms and regulations of TTFF. I will provide the festival with any additional information required pursuant to these rules and regulations. I authorize the Taita Taveta Film Festival to exhibit my film, and if selected, I confirm that an exhibition copy will be available in a required format for screening during the 2024 festival. I certify that I hold all necessary rights for the submission of this film/video to the Taita Taveta Film Festival and that all rights and clearances have been made. This film is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation. I hold Taita Taveta Film Festival harmless from damage to, or loss of any or all materials en route to, from or otherwise at the festival. I assume all legal responsibilities therein. By Agreeing to these terms, I transfer to Taita Taveta Film Festival the right to use excerpts of the submitted film, its stills, and trailers, for the purposes of publicity and marketing of the film at the 2024 festival, and for other non-commercial uses related to the promotion of the 2024 festival. I hereby agree to indemnify Taita Taveta Film Festival, in the event that such rights have not been properly transferred.