By Olamide Jasanya
The Nigerian movie industry, otherwise known as Nollywood has for the past 12 months experienced a drastic improvement with its stories, acting and the details paid to the technicalities. The performance of most of the recently released movies in national and international competitions is a testimony to that.
At the just concluded ninth edition of Abuja International Film Festival held in Silverbird Cinema in Abuja, Nigerian movies won six out of the 11 categories available. Some of the winners include Joseph Benjamin, ‘Best Actor’, Phone Swap, Tope Oshin Ogun and a few others.
Actors, Kate Henshaw, Adebayo Salami and Africa Magic were also given Special Recognition awards while Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso won the Distinguished Merit Award.
The award is a brain child of director-producer, Fidelis Duker
Here is a list of the winners.
Best Feature Nigeria
Phone Swap – Kunle Afolayan
I will take my Chances – Desmond Elliot
Married but Living Single – Tunde Olaoye – Winner
Holding Hope – desmond Elliot
Jejeloye – James Muyiwa
True Citizens – Elvis Chuks
Best Feature Foreign
Brother – Venezuela
Marieke Marieke – Belgium
Without – USA
The Christening – Poland
Marhejaan – Bangladesh – Winner
Best Short Film Nigeria
Till Death Do Us Part – Tope Oshin Ogun – Winner
500 Dollars – Mohammed Musulumi
Young Smoker – Tope Osin Ogun
Best Short Film Foreign
Double Happiness – Taiwan – Winner
Barefoot Humanity – Italy
Behind The Window – Lebanon
0507 – UK
Zambezi News – Zimbabwe
The Substitute – Isreal
Light Hearted Boy – Italy
Best Documentary
Goge Africa – Nigeria
Rent Boys – Germany
Sex In City – Zimbabwe
Ginger More than a Game – Serbia – Winner
Best Experimnal Film
Retribution – Nigeria
Game Over – Ghana – Winner
Campus Life – Zimbabwe
Best Animation Film
Mission – Nigeria
Zaniek Geliago – France
A Mysterious Fish – Spain
Losser Leg – Italy – Winner
Outstanding Male Act
Joseph Benjamin – Nigeria – Married But Living Single – Winner
Desmond Elliot – Nigeria – Holding Hope
Bryan Okwere – Nigeria – I will take my Chances
Ron Carrier –USA – Without
Wale Ojo – Nigeria – Phone Swap
Outstanding Female Act
Nse Ikpe Etim – Nigeria – Phone Swap
Uche Jombo – Nigeria – Holding Hope
Ini Edo – Nigeria – I will take my chances
Joselyn Jensen – USA – Without
Amara Amoji – Nigeria – Till Death Do Us Part – Winner
Outstanding Film In Directing
Holding Hope – Nigeria – Desmond Elliot
Phone Swap – Nigeria – Kunle Afolayan – Winner
Without – USA – Maric Jckson
Till Death Do Us Part – Nigeria – Tope Oshin Ogun
Married But Living Single – Nigeria – Tunde Olaoye
Golden Jury
Phone Swap – Nigeria – Winner
Without – USA
Married but Living and Single – Nigeria
Holding Hope – Nigeria
Maherjaan – Bangladesh
Double Happiness – Taiwan
Behind the Window – Lebanon