The Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF) has announced winners for its 17th edition which held virtually for the first time since its inception.
According to Festival Director, Temitope Duker, the event attracted over 100 filmmakers, journalist and film enthusiasts.
In her opening remarks, Duker who took over as director in 2018, disclosed that this year’s festival was remarkable and will go down in history as the year many festivals shifted from physical gatherings to virtual assemblies as it has been an interesting experience for them as organizers with its attendant challenges.
She also enumerated the opportunities it offered in bringing people together irrespective of the distance. She was however quick to mention the threat it possesses to physical meetings.
While analyzing the entries received this year, Duker informed the gathering that over 600 entries were received with 92 selected for screening and 42 nominated for possible awards.
The 92 different films in different genres were screened virtually over five days from 9th to 13th November, 2020.
This year’s online edition saw Dimbo Atiya’s film ‘Drawing Strength’ win five laurels on the night for Outstanding Nigerian Film, Actor, Actress, Directing and the Golden Jury Prize.
Other winners on the night include Moses Ipadeola’s ‘Dark’, outstanding documentary films that was jointly won by ‘Mother Nature Manifestation’ from Kenya and ‘Women Hold Up the Sky Africa’ from South Africa.
Here is the full list of winners:
Outstanding Experimental Film:
Social Comment – Nigeria
Call Me Neghuiho – Cape Verde
Outstanding Short Film (Nigeria):
Dark – Moses Ipadeola
Outstanding Short Film (Foreign):
Define Delphine – Brazil
Outstanding Feature Film (Nigeria):
Drawing Strenght – Dimbo Atiya
Muddled – Best Okoduwa
Outstanding Feature Film (Foreign):
Mad House – Ghana
Outstanding Documentary Film:
Women Hold Up The Sky African – South Africa
Mother Nature Manifestation – Kenya
Outstanding Student Film:
The Honorable – Nigeria
Outstanding Male Actor:
Chris Okagbue – Drawing Strength – Nigeria
Goddiz Fongwa – Saving Mbango – Cameroon
Outanding Female Actress:
Sophie Alakija – Drawing Strength – Nigeria
Outstanding Film In Directing:
Dimbo Atiya – Drawing Strenght –Nigeria
Outstanding Film In Music Score:
The Devoted – Hungary
Virtual Audience Choice Award:
Last Request – Nigeria
Festival Mention Prize For Narrative:
The King With No Culture – Ghana
Aiff Golden Jury Prize:
Drawing Strenght – Nigeria
