The Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), also known as the Festival of the Dhow Countries, is an annual film festival held in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and is one of the largest cultural events in East Africa. Established in 1997, it is a non-governmental organization dedicated to developing and promoting film and other cultural industries as catalysts for regional social and economic growth. The festival showcases films from Africa, the African Diaspora, and Dhow Countries (South East Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Persian Gulf, Iran, Pakistan, India, and the Indian Ocean Islands), with a focus on promoting African culture and communication through film. ZIFF offers 12 international awards presented by five international juries.