The 13th Abuja International took place from 4th to 7th
of October 2016 at the Silverbird cinemas Abuja. The festival witnessed
the screening of 65 films from 37 countries from the over seven hundred
entries received from 57 countries. The Film market witnessed the
attendance of 30 exhibitors who came to exhibit their product and
services during the 4 day event.
The
Film Festival this year was very much different from previous years as
it had unprecedented 3221 visitors at the festival in 4 days. This is
probably the largest number of visitors at any film festival in Nigeria.
We also created some programmes that made the Abuja international film
festival different from previous edition. You know we are the premiere
and longest running independent film festival in Nigeria and West
Africa. Uninterrupted for 13 years. this year’s we had a masterclass in
acting facilitated by Richard Mofe Damijo, Lancelot Imasuen, Segun
Arinze and Francis duru where over 150 actors were trained in the basics
of screen acting. We also collaborated with Canon UK and Middle East to
train 60 young aspiring Nigerians in cinematography and Photography,
here skills and knowledge was transferred which I know the results will
manifest in the coming years as most of them will be very successful
entrepreneurs in the creative sector.
This
is not the first time we are having a minister at the festival. we have
had over 3 ministers in the person of Chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu, Mr.
Frank Nweke jnr both Minister of Information and Oloye olajumoke
Akinjide the former Minister of state FCT, so Ministers attending the
Festival is not new but however what is unique is that we had three
ministers in attendance namely Alhaji Lai Mohammed the Minister of
Information, Alhaji Muhammed Bello of the FCT and Engr. Suleiman Adamu
the Minister of water resources. We also had 9 ambassadors from Iran,
US, Argentina, Mexico, France, Ghana, China amongst others. Also in
attendance were senator ben murray bruce, present and former DG's,
former Ministers and several major stakeholders. We had a large
delegation from Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa, Togo, Benin, cote d'voire
amongst others for the fepaci meeting. It had more exhibitors as they
had a lot to offer the sector.
It
was basically a function of careful planning and creating the right
programming for the festival. an example is the women in film panel that
x-rayed the dominant influence of women in Nigerian cinema lately and
of course the fepaci co production and distribution workshop where
countries within the west African sub region and neighboring countries
discussed areas of synergy and partnership in production, distribution
and the fight against piracy.
We
are very optimistic of a bigger 2017 film festival. For me it can only
be better and we hope to do an appraisal of what happened this year and
begin to plan for 2017. I have always said festivals are planned for a
year so we will return to the drawing board and begin the plan. What I
can assure you is that we will do better and continue to raise the
standard.
That
is in the pipeline, we will add more interesting categories next year.
Some of these additions will be in tune with the best global standard as
per award categories for festivals without eroding the essence of the
festival. However we will want to get most of the categories endowed and
this is obviously possible.
The 13th
Abuja International film festival had likes of Richard Mofe Damijo,
Emeka Ike, Paul Obaazele, Zack Orji, Evelyn Ikunobe, Thelma Okoduwa,
Segun Arinze, Judith Audu, emeka osai, fred amata, sonny mcdon, musi waa
and Wilson gilbert from cameroun, akofa asiedu and Kwame boadie from
Ghana, ken njoku, chike chekwas, chike brian, bond emeruwa, Mahmood ali
balogun, sonny mcdon, tonny anih , ladan salihu former DG FRCN, Mr. John
Odey Former Minister of Information amongst several others in
attendance.
OUTSTANDING STUDENT FILM
A TURNED TABLE
|
SAMSON NUNGKOP
|
OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR
PRINCE DAVID OSEI
|
LAST NIGHT
|
GHANA/NIGERIA
|
OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTRESS
JUDITH AUDU
|
JUST NOT MARRIED
|
NIGERIA
|
OUTSTANDING FILM IN DIRECTING
SADEGH DACHIGHI
|
UNTIL AHMAD RETURNS
|
IRAN
|
OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTRY FILM
RECORD MUNDIALE
|
MEXICO
|
SANTIANO GERAT
|
OUTSTANDING FILM IN ANIMATION
MONSTER HUNT
|
CHINA
|
RAMAN HUI
|
OUTSTANDING FEATURE FILM (FOREIGN)
HARD COP (VIVIR Y DEJAR MATAR)
|
ARGENTINA
|
JUAN GABRIEL CORNEL
|
OUTSTANDING FEATURE FILM (INDIGENEOUS)
A SOLDIER’S STORY
|
FRANKIE OGAC
|
OUTSTANDING SHORT FILM (NIGERIA)
OPEYEMI
|
ALVAN OBICHIE
|
OUTSTANDING SHORT FILM (FOREIGN)
ALMA
|
CHRISTA EKA ASSAM
|
CAMEROON
|
GOLDEN JURY AWARD
MONSTER HUNT
|
RAMAN HUI
|
CHINA
|
EFERE OZAKO BEST EXPERIMENTAL
WAKRIKE
|
CHINWIKE ONWUCHEKWA
|
NIGERIA
|
OUTSTANDING MUSIC SCORE
THE TALE OF LOVE
|
AHMAD RAMEZANZEDEH
|
IRAN
|
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS
ATM LANCELOT ODUWA IMASUEN
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