ZANZIBAR SOCCER QUEENS
Zanzibar/UK 2008; 52 min, Director: Florence Ayisi, Iris Films Ltd. UK, engl. OmU

Synopsis

Women's passion for soccer transcends gender boundaries and challenges the traditional image of women in Zanzibar, a predominantly Muslim society. The film presents a provocative and timely portrait of WOMEN FIGHTERS, a team of strong-willed women determined to better their lives and define new identities through playing football. Despite opposition and limited facilities, the women succeed to play the game they love, and their challenging viewpoints are signs of changing times on this exotic Island in East Africa.ZANZIBAR SOCCER QUEENS presents personal stories of aspirations, shattered dreams, self-determination, friendship and confidence gained from playing football. Their stories present unique insights into the lives and experiences of women in modern Africa.The women’s passion for football is a desire for freedom and a passion for life! Playing soccer is a catalyst for personal change and a gateway to new experiences. More about the film Through individual stories, we uncover the tensions between the women's passion for football and some strongly held traditional and cultural viewpoints about how women’s dress code; “When women play football, they should cover their bodies. They shouldn’t wear shorts…when men are watching, they can be tempted,” says a Koran schoolteacher. NASSRA, 43, coach and founder of the team challenges this attitude; “…we’re there to do exercises…we’re not there to tempt any man…whoever says this…has personal problems.”Playing football provides opportunities for new experiences as LIGHT- NESS, 18, affirms, “before playing football I had no opportunities to travel as I have now… without foot- ball I’d be at home doing things I shouldn’t be doing…” For ZUWENA, 28, playing football helps to heal the pain of being rejected by her husband because she couldn’t have children; “Football has helped me to forget the pain I experienced.” AMINA, 32, feels suffocated and unhappy because her husband stopped her from playing football soon after they got married; “…I felt so unhappy…I wanted to burn my football shirts and socks…”WARDA, 20, wants to travel and meet other international players such as Ronaldo. She believes that “when I play football there are things I won’t be doing, for example, prostitution…drugs.”Unveiling their soccer dreams is evidence of social change and personal develop- ment, emancipation and empowerment through sports.
http://www.zanzibarsoccerqueens.com/

Florence Ayisi
FLORENCE AYISI is a filmmaker and university lecturer who has for many years explored how the work and visions of women in the developing world, particularly Africa, are at the vanguard of social change and a silent revolution that reflects ‘real’ life experiences in modern Africa. FLORENCE was born in Cameroon, West Africa. She obtained a degree in English from the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon then moved to the UK where she pursued postgraduate studies in film and Television, obtaining an MA in Producing and Directing at the Northern School of Film and Television (NSFTV), Leeds. She also holds an MA in Theatre and Media Produc- tion from the University of Hull, a Diploma in Television Production and Journalism from London and a Certificate in Higher Education from Sunderland University. She is presently a Reader in Film Practice at the University of Wales, Newport. Her teaching and research interests include Documentary film Practice, Producing, Directing, Editing Aesthetics, African Cinema, [Representing] Women in Film, Cultural Identity and indigenous Images in film. Florence has taught in different Higher Education institutions in the U.K; University of Sunderland, Coventry University and University of Glamorgan. [Film/TV] Professional work and Awards In March 2008, Florence was awarded the UK Film Council ‘Breakthrough Brits’ for Film Talent. Florence’s films focus on [African] women’s lives, presenting unique and rare insights into their experiences and situation. Her first feature-length film, a documentary, Sisters In Law, (Co- directed by Kim Longinotto) follows the work of two women in a court in Cameroon; a State Prosecutor and a Magistrate court Judge – they take on cases involving violence against women and children. Sisters In Law has been shown in over 120 film festivals and won over 24 prestigious international film awards including PRIX ART ET ESSAI at Cannes film festival; Golden Maile for Best Documentary at Hawaii Film Festival; Grierson Award for Best Documentary on a Contemporary Issue; Audience Award, International Documentary Festival Amsterdam; “Social Justice Award” at Santa Barbara Film Festival; Winner of “The Special Documentary Award” Dokfest, Munich; “Best Long Film” Bologna Human Rights Film Festival, Italy. In 2005, Florence founded Iris Films UK, and has since produced and directed 3 documentary films: My Mother: ISANGE (2005, 7 mins), Our World in Zanzibar (2007, 35 mins) and Zanzibar Soccer Queens (2007, 87 mins & 52 mins). Zanzibar Soccer Queens, her second feature-length documentary, presents a rare insight and a provocative portrait of a female football team in Zanzibar, a predominantly Muslim society. Zanzibar Soccer Queens was premiered at the Gothen- burg International Film Festival in February 2007, and has since been screened in over 20 film festivals worldwide including: Women Make Waves Film Festival in Taiwan; Hawaii International Film Festival; ICA in London, as part of the Black Film Festival; Regent’s Park Film Festival in Toronto; Real Life Documentary Film Festival in Ghana; Ankara International Film Festival; NatFilm festival in Denmark; FESPACO and Zanzibar International Film Festival. In November 2007, Florence was invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen; She was amongst the guests invited because their work reflects strong associations with Commonwealth African countries. Florence has worked as a freelance Production Manager, Researcher and Production Assistant on various independent television programmes commissioned by Channel 4 Television, U.K. These include: Out of Africa a 4 x 50 minutes current affairs series on politics and economics; Mister Foot, a drama-documentary about football in Cameroon; Earl Marshall School, a short documentary about a multi-ethnic school in Sheffield, UK. She is currently developing a number of documentary projects on Cross-cultural encounters in contemporary Britain, African Artists, Activists and Sports Personalities. She is also developing her first fiction project, Black Velvet, set in Cameroon.