It was a dominant year for Nigerian films as they dominated the 18th edition of the Abuja International Film Festival with the theme: SEE BEYOND – Film Industry under the new normal.
The Film Festival which is the longest running film festival in Anglophone west Africa received a total of 1,771 films from 67 countries, while about 51 films and filmmakers respectively made the nominees list at awards ceremony.
According to the Festival Director Temitope Duker who spoke to journalists on the sidelines of the award ceremony which was held on Thursday at Silverbird Cinemas, 115 films were screened during the 5 days film festival.
A total of 15 Films and Filmmakers carted home the awards on the night.
The event played host to top movie actors and producers like Segun Arinze, Lancelot Imaseun, Papel Paul, Bond Emeruwa, Association of Movie Producers Nigeria President Peace Anyiam Osigwe, Aljazeera News Editor Fidelis Mba, Special Assistant New Media to the Vice President Philip Obin, Executive Secretary Lagos State Censors Board Bukola Adaminoju, Officials of Nigerian Film Corporation, National Film and Video Censors Board among several dignitaries.
It is important to mention the Film Festival was returning after the 2020 edition that was held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic and so winners of the Virtual edition had the opportunity of receiving their awards.
According to the Festival Communication Officer Fidelia Duker, she confirmed to journalists that unlike the 2020 edition that had only 600 entries with 92 selected for screenings and 42 nominated for possible awards, Nigerian filmmakers won 9 out of the 15 categories.
Speaking on the 18th edition, Duker, noted that he is excited that the festival is back as a physical one after the 2020 edition that was purely hybrid and virtual in its entirety.
READ ALSO: Organisers unveil nominees for 18th Abuja Int’l film festival
“As the world unite together to fight the global pandemic that prevented physical gathering last year, it is important we begin to see films as a tool to air our own opinions; make judgments and become part of the story-telling traditions passed down to us through generations now enhanced and embellished with the aid of ever-captivating and improving technology,” said Duker.
Speaking during the Film Festival, Veteran Filmmaker and Director Benin Film Academy Lancelot Imaseun commended the tenacity of the organizers for sustaining the festival this pass 18 years,
Also speaking first time director who won an award under the First Film by a Director Category, Olamide Wale Akimolayan, believes the award will spur him to contribute more in the industry.
He said, “It an honour, I’m very happy to be a recipient of an award like this as a first time director, it’s a privilege for me. This is my first movie, and the title is Balokun.
“Nollywood is growing, we have our movie showing all over the world and it’s gaining outside recognition, it’s a win for us.”
See full list of winners below;
Efere Ozako Outstanding Experimental Film
Winner ‘Selftheraphy’ Belgium
Outstanding short film (Nigeria)
Winner Peter Fada ‘Soja’
Outstanding feature film (Foreign)
Winner Mucho Wang, Fangmin Wang _China ‘Love Laboratory’
Outstanding feature film (Nigeria)
Winner Papel Paul Papel ‘Eagles Wings’
Outstanding short film (Foreign)
Ralph Isenberg-United States ‘Four Motherless Children’
Outstanding male actor
Winner Ifa Iwara-Nigeria ‘Lockdown Heat’
Outstanding female actor
Winner Nse Ikpe Etim-Nigeria ‘The Wait”
Outstanding films music score
Winner ‘Tara’s Diary’ Nigeria
Outstanding film directing
Winner ‘Balokun’ Olamide Wale Akimolayan-Nigeria
