Swahiliwood

Tanzania's film industry, also known as Swahiliwood (a portmanteau of Swahili, Tanzania's official language, and Hollywood), was established around 2001. Films produced with low budgets, short schedules, and using 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, but only a few higher quality Tanzanian feature films have been released in cinemas.

Most Tanzanian film production studios are based in Dares Salaam, the country's largest city and business and fashion center.

Some foreign movies were filmed in Tanganyika and Zanzibar before Tanzania was declared independent in 1961. Tanzania is now a hot spot for new African filmmakers and offers opportunities otherwise not available to young African filmmakers. There is also the Zanzibar International Film Festival, which hosts films, workshops, exhibitions, dhow race, music and performing arts, and woman, children and village panorama.

Tanzania inherited parts of their cinematic culture from British colonialists, including the production of both commercial films and government-funded instructional films. After independence in 1961, the newly formed government led by the President Julius Kambarage Nyerere repatriated South African film expats, and established the country's own film industry under the Ministry of Community Development. Yet, South Africa was plagued by Apartheid, and Tanzania and other independent African countries broke ties with them until the Apartheid government was removed. Replacing the South African filmmakers were Yugoslavian filmmakers, who started aiding the film industry of Tanzania in 1963, helping with establishing and strengthening the industry. Many of the films created during this time were instructional or educational, made by the government, and distributed across Tanzania.

In 2001, Maangamizi: The Ancient One was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. Mapenzi Ya Mungu (God's Love) was released in 2014 Tanzanian movies list. Bongoland, a film about U.S. immigrant from Tanzania, was released in 2003. Other notable films include Ni Noma, released in June 2016.

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