It was another year of dominance for Nigerian films and filmmakers as they dominated the 19th edition of the Abuja International Film Festival with the theme: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS OF DIGITAL STREAMING REVOLUTION GLOBALLY.

The Film Festival which is the longest running film festival in Anglophone west Africa received an unprecedented 1,987 films from 97 countries, while about 49 films and filmmakers respectively made the nominees list at awards ceremony.

According to the Festival Director Temitope Duker who spoke journalist on the sidelines of the award ceremony, which held on Thursday 3rd November 2023 at Silverbird Cinemas with 115 films, screened during the 5 days film festival.

A total of 21 Films and Filmmakers carted home the awards on the night. The Night didn’t end without the newly introduced short film competition by Abuja International Film Festival and Hypo Home Care Product tagged SHOOT TO CLEAN that had over 187 films submitted over a 2 weeks window with the theme on Hygiene.

Interestingly, after a rigorous screening exercise by the Jury which had Segun Arinze, Monalisa Chinda, Mykael Parish, Charles Inojie, Temitope Duker and Akintayo Akinseloyin, 25 films will were shortlisted of which the final winning films were announced at the award ceremony.

The Winning Clean to Shoot films were MY JUJU (2ND RUNNER UP), DIRTY SPACE (1ST RUNNER UP) and RULE NO 1 (WINNER). The event played host to top movie actors and producers like Segun Arinze, Monalisa Chinda, Papel Paul, Bond Emeruwa, Victor Okhai, Steve Eboh, Charles Ojugbana, Tanko Yinusa, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas DG National Film and Video Censors Board, Dr. John Asein DG Nigerian Copyright Commission, Charles Inojie, Yibo Koko, Mykael Parish, Sydney Diala, Moji Danisa, Barbara Odoh, Akintayo Akinseloyin of Hypo Home Care Products.

According to the Festival Communication Officer, Fidelia Duker, unlike the 2021 edition that had 1561 entries with 92 selected for screenings and 42 nominated for possible awards, Nigerian filmmakers won 9 out of the 15 categories.

Speaking on the 19th edition, Fidelis Duker the Founder of the Abuja International Film Festival, noted that the he is excited that the festival has come to stay after crossing the 18 years mark of adulthood especially with the locals owning the Film festival as was the experience with the 19th edition.

Speaking on the theme of the festival this year which centered on the revolution of streaming platforms which has become the global trend and its impact on the future of filmmaking in Nigeria that has a lot of prospect for the development of the nation,” said Duker.

Speaking during the Film Festival, Veteran Actor and Former President of Actors Guild of Nigeria commended the tenacity of the organizers for sustaining the festival this pass 19 years as he looks forward to the 20th edition next year.

Also speaking at the sideline of the film festival Charles Okwuowulu whose film won the two hundred thousand-naira cash prize for his film MY JUJU in the SHOOT TO CLEAN competition and he believes the award will spur him to contribute more in the industry.

Former President of Screenwriter Guild of Nigeria and Veteran Actor Charles Inojie commended the organizers of the Abuja International Film Festival for keeping the festival for 19 years amidst the challenging economic realities. “Nollywood is growing, we have our movie showing all over the world and it’s gaining outside recognition, it’s a win for us.”

As part of the rituals of the festival, the Executive Governor of Lagos Mr Babajide Sanwoolu was honored with the distinguished merit award of the festival for ho several interventions and support for the development for the industry. It is on record that he has during his tenure created capacity building initiatives that has so far trained over 2000 aspiring and established filmmakers in different aspects of filmmaking.
According to the organisers, Mr. Sanwoolu has also created funding opportunities which include grants and interest free loans that several filmmakers have so far accessed. Also mentioned is the new film city being built around the Epe area of lagos.

During the event, award winners were announced as follows:

Efere Ozako Outstanding Experimental Film
winner – Freetown To Flatbush – USA
Outstanding short film (Nigeria)
Winner – May 27th – Smart Edikan
Outstanding feature film (Foreign)
Winner – The Day I was Twenty – China
Outstanding feature film (Nigeria)
Winner Andy Amenechi – Enough of Silence
Outstanding short film (Foreign)
Winner – The Day I was Twenty – China
Outstanding male actor
Winner Sambasa Nzeribe – Enough of Silence – Nigeria
Outstanding female actor
Winner Shaffy Bello – Obsession – Nigeria
Outstanding films music score
Winner ‘Sin City – Nigeria
Outstanding film directing
Winner Sin City – Muyiwa Ademola – Nigeria
Outstanding film Animation
Winner – Larvae Story – Korea
Audience Choice Award
Winner – Obsession – Nigeria
Outstanding Documentary film
Winner – Journey of Igbo Civilization – Nigeria
Outstanding Student film
Winners – Aminata – Spain & Once a perfect Murder – Nigeria
Golden Jury Award
Winner – Enough of Silence – Nigeria