Abuja International Film Festival Names of the Nominees for Its 11th Edition

The Abuja International Film Festival has released the names of the nominees for its 11th edition scheduled for the prestigious Silverbird Cinemas Abuja Nigeria. The nominees were announced in 13 different  categories excluding nominations for animation and the viewer’s Choice awards that will be decided by the audience at the festival.

Two new categories were added to the list of categories namely outstanding music score and student film category. According to Fred Amata, the Acting Festival Director, these new categories were added to reward excellence in music scoring and student film production respectively.

Interestingly, the film festival attracted over 145 entries from around the world with entries from Nigeria attracting over 60% of the total entries.

The festival will open on the 23rd of September with the highly anticipated Nigerian film “Invasion 1897” produced by celebrated Nigerian filmmaker Lancelot Imaseun  and the Closing Night Film will also attract the presentation of Jackie Chan 3D film titled Chinese Zodiac which ironically is the last action thriller by the 60 years old Hong kong Filmmaker. The film Chinese Zodiac is an entry of the Chinese Government to the 11th Abuja International Film Festival.

Also, the Film Festival will as part of his honors list honor this year honor the President of Nigeria, President Goodluck jonathan with the highest honor of the festival amongst other Nigerians that will include the Governor ‘s of Benue state Hon. Gabriel Suswan, Mr. Ben Murray Bruce of Silverbird, Prince Chris Nnebe of Pharmatex, Mr. Andy Boyo of Diamond Pictures, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, High Chief Edem Duke at the closing ceremony.

According to Loius Okpoto, The Media Manager for the Abuja Film Festival, Other attractions at the festival will be the public presentation  of 4 Nigerian films centered on Agric/health related nutrition projects funded by the Harvestplus International based in Washington and this even will witness the presence of the Honorable Ministers of Heath Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu and his counterpart from         Agriculture minister                
 Dr.  Akinwunmi Adeshina respectively. The films are advocacy projects on the benefits of cassava vitamin A nutrients in cassava.

2014 ABUJA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL NOMINEES LIST

BEST FEATURE FILM (NIGERIA)

1.      INVASION 1897 – LANCELOTT ODUWA IMASUEN

2.      BLOOD AND ROMANCE – DANJUMA DJ SAAID

3.      DREAM WALKER – NEVILLE OSSAI

4.      TWIST OF FATE – GBENGA BELLO

5.      WHERE TALENT LIES – IKENNA OGUIKE

6.      BLACK SILHOUETTE – CHARLES UWAGBAI

7.      IRUGBIN (SEED) – ADEBAYO TIJANNI

BEST FEATURE FILM (FOREIGN)

1.      CHINESE ZODIAC {CHINA}

2.      THE GRANDMASTER {CHINA}

3.      WALKING TO SCHOOL {CHINA}

4.      THE MAJOR {RUSSIA}

5.      THE SUPERSTITON {UGANDA}

BEAT SHORT FILM (NIGERIA)

1.      FROST BITE – SEUN AJAYI

2.      NEW HORIZONS – TOPE OSHIN OGUN

3.      NOT RIGHT – UDUAK OBONG PATRICK

4.      YAWA (NEMESIS) – DAMIJO EFE YOUNG

5.      LOVE AND WAR – TOPE OSHIN OGUN

BEST SHORT FILM (FOREIGN)

1.      JUST AFRIEND {EGYPT-LUXOR}

2.      AWAITING LAZARUS {UNITED KINGDOM}

3.      LA QUEUE (THE QUEUE) {FRANCE}

4.      THE SON OF THE SEA {SPAIN}

5.      THE JOURNEY(UAE)

BEST DOCUMENTARY

1.      UNBROKEN (The Story John Sumonu)  – Toyin Fajj - Nigeria

2.      PARADOX OF LIFE –  Katman dayil - Nigeria

3.      OMONONG (GIFT) – Katman Dayil – Nigeria

4.      THE RISE OF THE EAGLES –  Biola Kazeem - Nigeria

5. SOUND OF TORTURE – Karen Shayo - Isreal

BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM

1.      THE THRONE – Jubril Malafia - Nigeria

2.      WHEN IS TOMMOROW – Ayo Donadove - Nigeria

3.      SOULS UNDER SOLES – Oluwaseun Afolabi – Nigeria 

THE OUTSTANDING COMIC FILM

1.      TROUBLE SOME LANDLORD – LARRY ZUKA - NIGERIA

2.      I COME LAGOS – ELVIS CHUKS - NIGERIA

3.      YAWA – NEMESIS  - DAMMIJO EFE YOUNG - NIGERIA

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR

1.      KHING BASSEY        - BLOOD AND ROMANCE - NIGERIA

2.      FRANK ATUS           – TWIST OF FATE - NIGERIA

3.      ALEX AYALOGU      – WHERE TALENT LIESN - NIGERIA

4.      JACKIE CHAN          – CHINESE ZODIAC - CHINA

5.       MIKE OMOREGBE    – INVASION 1897 - NIGERIA

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR

1.      MARY UCHE                       – TWIST OF FATE - NIGERIA

2.      ABIMBOLA ADEMOYE    – WHERE TALENT LIES - NIGERIA

3.      JACKIE APPIAH                  – DREAM WALKER - NIGERIA

4.      IVIE OKUJAYE                    – BLACK SILHOUETTE - NIGERIA

BEST DIRECTING

1.      JACKIE CHAN                                   - CHINESE ZODIAC (CHINA)

2.      JIAHUANG PENG & CHEN PENG  - WALKING TO SCHOOL (CHINA)

3.      LANCEELOT .O. IMASUEN            – INVASION 1897 (NIGERIA)

4.      DANJUMA “DEEJAY” SA’ID          – BLOOD AND ROMANCE (NIGERIA)

5.      KAR WAI WONG                            – THE GRANDMASTER (CHINA)

BEST STUDENT FILM

1.      SOULS UNDER SOLES – NATIONAL FILM INSTITUTE

2.      WHEN IS TOMMOROW – AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY

3.      TALES BY SUNSET – AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY

4.      FORLON – NATIONAL FILM INSTITUTE

5.      BETRAYED – IYUA ALAH – NATIONAL FILM INSTITUTE

OUTSTANDING MUSIC

1.      BLOOD AND ROMANCE - NIGERIA

2.      CHINESE ZODIAC - CHINA

3.      INVASION 1897 -NIGERIA

4.      IRUGBIN (SEED) –NIGERIA

5.      THE WINGS - RUSSIA