Abuja, Nigeria’s city of power, is reveling in film festival atmosphere as the Abuja International Film Festival opened yesterday Tuesday 22 at the Silverbird Cinemas.
In its 16th year, AIFF is clearly the most consistent in Nigeria and the longest running in anglophone West Africa.
At the official opening ceremony yesterday, the Minister of Water Resources Engr. Suleiman Adamu, declared the festival open as the special Guest of Honor in company with the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation Dr. Chidia Madueke, who delivered a goodwill message.
Festival Director and wife of the founder, Mrs. Temitope Duker, went down memory lane on the film festival’s 16 years trajectory to highlight some of the achievements of the festival as the emergence of cinemas in Abuja. She also mentioned how the federal capital territory is gradually becoming a hub for filmmaking as a result ofvthe awareness being generated. She recalled how the film festival started in 2003 with hotels serving as screening centres but today there are several cineplexes and multiplexes hosting several film festivals around the country.
According to her, AIFF has become “a beacon of hope for many young and aspiring filmmakers to showcase their first films, with some of them moving on to become celebrated filmmakers both locally and internationally.”
She however apealled to government to see the unique opportunities in film festivals to the economics and social lives of host communities, citing examples of major festivals like Cannes (France), Venice (Italy), Sundance (USA) and Berlinale (Germany) “which have today become a major part of those cities’ economic and social ecosystem.”
In his response, the minister of Water Resources, Engr Adamu, commended the resilience and sustainability of the organisers to have kept the festival this long, promising to see how the government can continue to engage and support worthy initiatives like this. He however advised that organisers must not relent in their drive for excellence.
Similarly, NFC’s MD, Maduekwe, commended the organises for sustaining the festival initiative, promising to always support such creative projects that seek to enhance the development of the industry in particular and the country in general.
The festival opened with the screening of the Kenyan documentary film FAR FROM HOME which centred on irregular migration of Africans through the sea to Europe and closed the eveming with Tade Ogidan’s film entry titled “Gold Statue” at about 11pm.
According to the founder and former festival director, Fidelis Duker, the need for him to step down as festival director became imperative after 15 years in the saddle in order to concentrate on his media business. He however promised to always contribute and assist in the running of the festival. He also commented on the quality of entries which from the programme line-up shows an array of outstanding films showcasing diverse genres and themes.
The festival will end on Friday with an award ceremony.
Here is the list of categories and nominees for Friday’s closing award ceremony:
Outstanding Feature Film (Nigeria)
1. Bling Lagosians – Bolanle Austen Peters
2. Unbreakable – Ben Chiadika
3. Gold Statue – Tade Ogidan
4. Cold Feet – Moses Inwang
5. Believe in you – Isioro Tokunbo
6. The Family – Judith Audu
7. Mother and Daughter – Kehinde Olorunyomi
8. Ordinary Fellow – Lorenzo Menakaya
9. The Ignored – Desmond Utonwem
Outstanding Feature Film (Foreign)
1. The Great Will – Zhang Yimou (China)
2. 94 Terror – Richard Mulunda (Uganda)
3. Blacksheep – McDonald Agugueshi (Ghana)
4. Under the weight of remorse – Lillian Moema (Brazil)
5. Foreign Love – Eboni Adams (USA/Nigeria)
6. First Person Plan – Eric Tretbar (USA)
7. Heart of Africa – Tship Kabanbii (Congo)
8. TARA – Kumer Ray (India)
Outstanding Music Score
1. Power of Wealth (Nigeria)
2. Ipade (Nigeria)
3. Ignored (Nigeria)
4. Honeymoon (USA)
5. Fix it or kill it (Nigeria)
6. Cold Feet (Nigeria)
7. The Great Wall (China)
Outstanding Documentary Film
1. Nigeria’s lost generation – Charles Luck od (Nigeria)
2. Tomorrow is gone – Boaz Goldbey (Israel)
3. Zulu Return – Guguletu (UK/US)
4. Confra – Ayo Adewunmi (Nigeria)
5. The Fence – Shreehan Diharmen (India)
6. Far for home – Charlie Dee (Italy)
7. Nightfall in Lagos – James Amuta (Nigeria)
8. Where has time gone – Brics (China)
Outstanding Animation Film
1. Sume – Sandra Jovanovska (Slovenia)
2. Ekuba – Koume Abel (Cote D’Ivoire)
3. Its Written – Aldivan Torres (Italy)
4. Behold – Gilnaz Arzpeyme (Canada)
5. Story of Mike the Ant – Sanja Savic (Serbia)
Outstanding Student Film
1. Simi – Johnson Ayolola (Nigeria)
2. Camo Cross – Sanni Ayodeji (Nigeria)
3. Somewhere in Nigeria – David Marvin(Nigeria)
4. Blackwood – Kalu Orj (Australia)
5. Dust – Shine Bone (USA)
6. Boys Don’t Cry – Albert Donkor (Ghana/UK)
7. The Procedure – Maviella Kore (Argentina)
8. Born in the evening – Finest Uwaoma (Nigeria)
First-Time Director
1. Dust – Shane Book (USA)
2. Procedure – Maviella Koref (Argentina)
3. Junlae Daughter – Nina Ding (China)
4. Beyond Tolerance – Muyiwa Aluko, Amaka Vanni, Rafest Aliyu
(Nigeria)
5. Nature Morte – Chantel Lorang (Luxemburg)
6. The History of Chicken – Odera Olivia Orji (Nigeria)
7. Snatched – Sagacious Osarunwese (Nigeria)
Outstanding Short Film (Nigeria)
1. Trumped – Stanlee Ohikhuare
2. And the Winner is – Adebola Ogunsina
3. In a Jungle – Uduak Etukudo
4. Tip of the Edge – Akorede Azeez
5. WE – Idiagbonya Samuel
6. Hooked – Osaigbovo Enamiatoe
7. Dark Room – Lauren Kagho Ithebor
8. Sinners at my place – Kelvin Luther Apaa
9. A Life called Tears – Peter Fada
Outstanding Film in Directing
1. Bling Lagosians – Bolanle Austen Peters (Nigeria)
2. The Great Wall – Zhang Yimou (China)
3. Golden Statue – Tade Ogidan (Nigeria)
4. 94 Terror – Richard Mulunda (Uganda)
5. Foreign Love – Ebony Adams (USA)
6. Heart of Africa – Tshope Kabambi (Congo DRC)
7. COde Wilo – Mike Steve Adeleye (Nigeria)
8. Cold Feet – Moses Inwang (Nigeria)
9. Its Written – Adams Torres (Brazil)
Outstanding Experimental Film
1. Odera – Chaz Cephaz (Nigeria)
2. Wasted – Uchenna Agbo (Nigeria)
3. Snatched – Sagacious Osarunwese (Nigeria)
4. Behold – Gilinaz Aryzpeyina (Canada)
5. Camo Cross – Sanni Ayodeji (Nigeria)
6. Growing Pain – Rusell Oru (Nigeria)
7. A Day too far – Chaz Chijioke Cephaz (Nigeria)
8. Forbidden Cave – Eric Ogbonmo (Nigeria)
9. Hatred – Saheed Adebayo (Nigeria)
Outstanding Actor
1. Adjetey Annan – Blacksheep (Ghana)
2. Gabriel Afolayan – Gold Statue (Nigeria)
3. Nosa Obaseki – Believe in you (Nigeria/Canada)
4. Jim Iyke – Cold Feet (Nigeria)
5. Faysal Ahmed – First person plan (USA)
6. Kelechi Udegbe – The family (Nigeria)
7. Gbenga Titiloye – Code Wilo (Nigeria)
8. Royan Man – Trumped (Nigeria)
9. Charles Inojie – Hatred (Nigeria)
Outstanding Actress
1. Joke Silva – If I am president (Nigeria)
2. Elvina Ibru – The Bling Lagosians (Nigeria)
3. Aevese Emokpae – The unbreakable (Nigeria)
4. Ninsiima Ronah – 94 Terror (Nigeria)
5. Shaffy Bello – Mother and Daughter-in-law (Nigeria)
6. Omowunmi Dada – Bony and Clara; The Dejavu Story (Nigeria)
7. Adaora Udeh – Blue (Nigeria)
8. Tayo Elesin – Honeymoon (USA)
9. Royan Man – Trumped (Nigeria)
Outstanding First-time Director
1. Dust – Shane Book (USA)
2. Procedure – Maviella Koref (Argentina)
3. Junlae Daughter – Ning Ding (China)
4. Beyond Tolerance – Muyiwa Aluko/Amaka Vanni/Rafest Aliu (Nigeria)
5. Growing Pain – Rusell Oru (Nigeria)
6. Dyskya: The women of Nepal – Brittney Thaxton (USA)
7. Orange – Bernard Ndukwe (Nigeria)
Outstanding Short Film (Foreign)
1. A mother – Natasha Ngaiza (Nigeria)
2. Farewell Though – Zaoh Li (China)
3. Baba Sifon – Pantalein (Reunion)
4. Apartment 24 – Nike Campbell (USA/Nigeria)
5. Honeymoon – Amy Aniobi (USA)
6. Impact – Hector Romance (Spain)
7. God has already gone ahead – Peter Boving (Germany)
8. Little Baby – Roberto Constatino (Italy)
9. A trip with mom – Sophie Shul (Taiwan)
Golden Jury Award
1. The Great Wall – China
2. Gold Statue – Nigeria
3. Unbreakable – Nigeria
4. Its Written – Brazil
5. The Family – Nigeria
6. Heart of Africa – Congo DRC
7. Bling Lagosians – Nigeria
8. Tara (The Journey of Love & Passion) – India
