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Panje

Panje NGO Zanzibar

no one shoud have to die from drowning

With free swim classes, three brave women of three different generations are fighting to change the old cultural picture of the women in Zanzibar. Many women on the island still don´t know how to swim even when some of them working in the sea. Or traveling the sea by boat. The last decades many boat incidents happened where only men was able to safe themselves. The project PANJE by a local charity foundation in Zanzibar wants to educate and inspire women to take action. With free swim classes for young and old, they learn to feel safe and connected to the sea. The picture of the women floating in the water symbolizes their empowerment.

special thanks for supporting our film project:

Rocket Film Zurich
Company 3
I AM STUDIO
Octamas AG
Royal Film Company GmbH

ClientZamzibar NGO Panje
AgencyKAIZEN STUDIO feat Rocket Film
DirectorSteve Won
Servicesconcept creation
script
production
post production

from vision
to impact

01

clients brief

The Zanzibar based NGO Panje is fighting against drowning by teaching women and men how to swim. The NGO was facing funding issues. Their marketing material was quite limited to still photography only and an website. Inspired by the photography series of Anna Boyiazis, we accepted their challange to create a storytelling shortfilm, expressing the perspective, challanges and vision of the women behind and around the Panje project to secure future funding.

02

challanges

Filming in Zanzibar posed significant challenges. We shot on Uzi Island, a remote area lacking electricity and presenting tough production conditions. Time was also a constraint, with limited opportunities to scout potential protagonists. Additionally, we restricted ourselves to shooting only 10 rolls of 16mm film, roughly equating to 2 hours of footage, making the production both a creative and logistical challenge.

03

our approach

Our focus was on three generations of women, showcasing different perspectives on the project and its impact on the local community. Shooting on 16mm film helped us distill the essence of the story and gave the film a unique, timeless quality. This approach perfectly captured the vibrant beauty of Zanzibar’s sunsets and sunrises, along with the myriad shades of blue in its seas. To preserve the magic of these moments, we limited our filming to the blue and golden hours of the day. With a small crew of three, supplemented by two local production assistants, we lived in the village on Uzi Island to foster a genuine connection with our protagonists and the surrounding community.

the result

After 10 days of challenging production on one of Zanzibar’s most remote islands, we created an authentic, powerful portrait of the Panje project and the inspiring women behind it. The 5-minute short film garnered international recognition, winning a Silver Award at Cannes YDA 2021 in the “Changing the World Frame by Frame” category. As well as recieving a vimeo staff pick as well as a nowness staff pick and shortlisted at Berlin Commercial. The film also played a pivotal role in helping the Panje project secure future funding from the Prince of Monaco and raised awareness about the crucial issue of drowning.

behind the scenes

Filming on Uzi Island was challenging due to the lack of electricity and basic infrastructure. We relied on battery-powered equipment and improvised locations without prior scouting. The team, including two local assistants, adapted quickly to the rough terrain and climate. Living in the village helped us connect deeply with the community, allowing us to capture genuine moments and build trust with our protagonists despite the difficult conditions. The lovley hospitality we experienced by the locals of Uzi Island made this an unforgettable experince. Hakuna Matata was the slogan of our production.

KAIZEN STUDIO

storytelling with soul