Friday, November 20, 2015 10:18 am
During the award ceremony, a Special Jury Prize was presented to notable Nigerian music video director, Clarence Peters for his first short film, Hex. It was an elated Peters who accepted and appreciated AFRIFF jury’s Special Recognition award of his effort as a first-time filmmaker. While thanking his cast and crew, he dedicated the award to his actress mum, Clarion Chukwura.
“I want to dedicate this award to my mum because without her I won’t be here today,” said the honoree also a son to popular music star, Sir Shina Peters.
The ovation was loudest when Fevers by Moroccan filmmaker, Hicham Ayouch won the overall Best Film. Other awards winners include Silent Tears by Ishaya Bako (Audience Choice Awards), Legacy of Rubies by Ebele Okoye (Best Animation), Joy by Solomon Onita Jr. (Best Student Short Film), E18hteam by Juan Rodriguez-Briso (Best Documentary), Reflections by Desmond Elliot (Oronto Douglas Award for Best Nigerian Film) and The Price of Love (Best Screenplay)
In the individual categories, Raja Amari won Best Director, while South African actors; Charlie Vundla and Fulu Makhovami won Best Actor and Best Actress for their roles in Cuckold Ayanda respectively. The AFRIFF jurors who also got a loud ovation from the crowd include Pedro Pimenta, Soheir Abdel Kader, Prof Hyginus Ekwuazi, Teddy Mattera, Dr Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Dapo Oshiyemi, Serge-Armand Kouami Noukoue and Asha Lovelace.
It wasn’t all about awards as the night was also spiced with music performances by Cobhams Asuquo and Timi Dakolo. While Cobhams performed ‘Cock Crow At Dawn’ originally sang by Bongos Ikwe, Timi Dakolo started off with Cry, in memory of the late patron of AFRIFF and Special Adviser on Research and Documentation to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Oronto Douglas. He rounded off his performance with Wish Me Well to the delight of audience.
AFRIFF’s 5th edition kicked off on 8 November with the premiere of Mediterranea by Jonas Carpignano and closed with Road to Yesterday, a debut production of celebrated actress Genevieve Nnaji on Friday 13 November.
The first edition of AFRIFF, an initiative of Chioma Ude, took place in 2010, in Port Harcourt. The second edition held in Lagos in 2012, while the last two editions held at Tinapa in Calabar, Cross River State.
This year, AFRIFF got over 600 film submissions of which 180 were screened, a significant increase from last year when 90 films were screened out of the 250 submissions received
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