Veteran Moroccan actor, Bachir Skirej

Veteran Moroccan actor, Bachir Skirej, has won the Best Actor awards for the film,” Looking for my Wife’s Husband” at the 2017 edition of the ZUMA Film Festival (ZUFF).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Moroccan thespian clinched the award, among other nominees for the category on Sunday night at the Awards and closing ceremony of the ZUFF in Abuja.

Other nominees for the title included Ado Gidado Dabino, for the movie etitled: `Jyin Sarauta’and Nosa Rex, for the movie `Love Upon the Hill,’ all Nigerians films.

The movie “Looking for my Wife’s Husband” is set in a middle-class, modern-day harem, and it focuses on the intricate law code dealing with polygamy.

‘Harem’ is a domestic space that is reserved for the women of the house in a Muslim family and is inaccessible to adult males except for close relations.

The movie is Directed by Mohamed Adderrahman Tazi and produced by Arts and Techniques Audio-Visuels.

It also featured other casts Mouna Fetou, Amina Rachid, among others.

However, Nigeria movies top the winners list for the night, pinching five honours.

The Best Nigerian Language Film was won by ‘JuyinSarauta’, Best Cinematography went to ‘Roti’ and the Best Feature Film and Best Picture was grabbed by ‘What Lies Within’,also a Nigerian film.

Nigerian ace actress Sogie-Efe Guobadia clinched Best Actress awards for her role in the movie ‘Hidden’, ‘Cairo Time’, an Egypt movie pinched the Best Screenplay awards.

Dr Chidia Maduekwe, Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and Chairman of the festival organising committee, said over 2,000 entries were received from filmmakers.

He noted that movies were submitted from Nigeria,Morroco,Egypt,Iran, Tanzania and Cameroon for screening by the festival secretariat.

NAN reports that a non-competitive award was also given to selected past and present Nigerian veteran actors.

They were recognised as the first recipients of the Nigerian Film Society Rock of Fame Award, the highest professional recognition within the Nigeria Film industry based solely on merit.

Some of the recipients included Sam Loco-Efe, James Iroha, popularly known as Giringori Akabogu’ who both received posthumous honours.

The living legends recognized included Ola Balogun,Sadiq Daba, Edward and Abdulkaraem Muhammed,among others.

The ZUMA Film Festival, now in its 8th edition, is platform for Nigerian film practitioners to network with their counterparts from other parts of the world and thus stimulates co-production and financing opportunities.

It presents the Nigerian film industry as a vibrant and viable investment option to Nigeria and international business communities.

The 2017 edition was held from Dec. 1 to 3 at the Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja.