Chipo Zhou

2021 Fellow from South Africa

Chipo Zhou has worked in the arts industry for more than 14 years, with experience in audiovisual. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (with honors) in Motion Picture Medium. Currently, she is the head of programming and curator for the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), the longest-running festival in southern Africa and arguably the largest in Africa. Chipo has deliberately cultivated the development of indigenous talent and facilitated access to both audiences and aspiring filmmakers from previously marginalized communities through various initiatives. As an avid proponent of the inclusion of women in the film industry, she signed the 50/50 by 2020 pledge on behalf of DIFF, having already demonstrated her commitment to the pledge at the time of her signing. Chipo sits on the Short Film Conference board and previously sat on the board of Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe. She has also served on local and international film festival juries, as well as on project selection panels for several residency programs. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Chipo plans to develop various partnerships that will further expand women's access to the film industry and to international coproductions throughout Africa.

⟨  Back to the Directory