Cinema of Tanzania

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Tanzania's film industry, also known as Swahiliwood or Bongo movie (a portmanteau of Swahili, Tanzania's official language, and Hollywood) and Bongowood,^[1] was established around 2001.^[2]

Films produced with low budgets, short schedules and camcorders are referred to colloquially as "bongo films" and are mass-released in DVD format. In 2011, bongo films were produced on a regular basis,^[2] but only a few higher quality Tanzanian feature films have been released in cinemas.^[3]

Most Tanzanian film production studios are based in Dar es Salaam.^[4]

Before Tanzania's independence in 1961, some foreign movies were filmed in Tanganyika and Zanzibar. The Zanzibar International Film Festival hosts films, workshops, exhibitions, Dhow races, music and performing arts, as well as panoramas of women, children and villages.^[5] The company movies are Steps Intertainment & Mzimuni Theatre Art