21st Abuja International Film Festival Showcases Global Films and Talent

Mr. Fidelis Duker

Abuja, Nigeria – October 17, 2024 – The 21st Abuja International Film Festival is set to wow audiences with a rich selection of films from around the world. This year's festival, taking place from October 28 to November 1, 2024, will feature movies from 45 countries, selected from 1,254 submissions. The festival celebrates the creativity and diversity of cinema, bringing together stories from different cultures.

Some of the highlighted films include "Four Quarters" from Russia, "Mending" and "Kaka" from Nigeria, "404.1" from Morocco, "Jagun Jagun" from Nigeria, "Leo's Party" from Brazil, "Widow's Gift" from Ghana, and "Over the Bridge." These films offer unique stories and perspectives, showcasing the talents of filmmakers from across the globe.

The competition for Best Actor and Best Actress is heating up, with popular names like Femi Adebayo, Ozy Agu, and Stan Eze from Nigeria, alongside Dave Hayllar from the USA. In the Best Actress category, Nigerian stars Tana Adelana, Omowunmi Dada, and Kehinde Bankole will compete against international talents such as Kara Wang from the USA and Hassna Monni from Morocco.

The festival will bring together filmmakers, movie lovers, and industry professionals, offering an exciting cinematic experience that breaks down borders and connects people through powerful storytelling.

The full list of nominees for the 21st Abuja International Film Festival has been released.

OFFICIAL NOMINEES OF 21^st ABUJA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

BEST DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE)

 

1.     LET WISDOM OF ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS SHINE THROUGH THE FUTURE - CHINA

2.    EBROHIMIE ROAD: A MUSEUM OF MEMORY – NIGERIA

3.    THE LAST ISLAND - ITALY

4.    SOFIA WILL RETURN -  SPAIN

5.    THE MIRROR PARAJANOV -FRANCE

6.    DELA - The Making of El Anatsui – NIGERIA

7.      ACCIDENTAL SPY - USA

 

BEST DOCUMENTARY (SHORT)

 

1.     LUCY - A PIONEER DESTINY – ITALY

2.    WOMEN OF BISSAU – SPAIN

3.    OUR MONIQUE - CAMEROON

4.    CHAINED SILENCE SPEAKS CHAPTER 1 - USA

5.    NO FOOD THE LAZY MAN – NIGERIA

6.    YOU HIDE ME – GHANA

7.    END OF TRIP  SAHARA – SPAIN 

 

 

BEST ANIMATION

 

1.     YOUR DEMOCRACY - USA

2.    DAWN - CAMEROON

3.    VAINGLORIOUS - USA

4.    JOULE – AUSTRALIA

5.    THE FOREST OF HONEST BEES – FRANCE

6.    TURKEY PINKY PANTS - USA

 

BEST EXPERIMENTAL

 

1.     PRE-EXISTING FREEDOM – USA

2.    TAGE IM WINTER - GERMANY

3.    YA HANOUNI – FRANCE

4.    SODADE – CAPE VERDE

5.    EVIL SPIRIT, GET OUT! – NIGERIA

6.    THE PROPHESY – SENEGAL

7.    OPERATION WAKALIGA - FATE AND BLOOD – UGANDA/ISREAL

 

            BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY

 

1.      OKE OKUTA – NIGERIA

2.      RED IS ROSE – GHANA

3.      JUJUMAN – UNITED KINGDOM

4.      12 HOUR – NIGERIA

5.      THE GOLDEN BOY – UNITED KINGDOM

6.      FADING ECHO - NIGERIA

 

 

 

BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY

 

1.     TURNS – NIGERIA

2.    LEO’S PARTY – BRAZIL

3.    KAKA – NIGERIA

4.    DYSTOPIK - FILM STUDY AND NOTES FOR AN AGONY – FRANCE

5.    JAGUN JAGUN – NIGERIA

6.    KISMET – CAMEROON

7.    MY LOVE FROM ANOTHER LAND – UGANDA/NIGERIA

8.    FOUR QUARTERS – RUSSIAN FEDERATION

 

BEST FEATURE FILM:  FOREIGN

1.     THE UMESH CHRONICLES – INDIA

2.    END OF THE RIVER – BULGARIA

3.    FOUR QUARTERS – RUSSIAN FEDERATION

4.    WAYUNAGU – HONDURAS

5.    WIDOWS GIFT - GHANA

6.    PEREPHERIC LOVE – SWITZERLAND

7.    AGAINST ALL – ANGOLA

8.    DEAD MENS WISH – CAMEROON

9.    404.1 – MOROCCO

 

BEST FEATURE: INDIGENOUS

 

1.     KAKA – PRINCE ABOKI DANIEL

2.    JAGUN JAGUN – ADEBAYO TIJANNI

3.    ADUNNI OGIDAN'BIRIN – YEMI AMODU

4.    MENDING – ROBERT PETERS

5.    UNKNOWN PANDEMIC – TUNDE OLAOYE

6.    OVER THE BRIDGE – TOLULOPE AJAYI

7.    MZINGO BURDEN – EMMANUEL IKUBEZE

8.    MY NAME IS MISAN – UYOYOU ADIA

 

 

BEST SHORT FILM: NIGERIA 

 

1.     NKEM – AYODELE OGUNDIPE

2.    OKE OKUTA – ADEOLA OSUNKOJO

3.    THE HOTEL ROOM – UYOYOU ADIAA

4.    SA’ANA – BOLA ADEBISI

5.    CRY ME AWAKE – SMART EDIKAN

6.    BETRAYAL OF THE STAR – ESTHER EFFIONG

7.    12 HOURS – TOBE NOSIKE

  

BEST SHORT FILM:  FOREIGN

 

1.     WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT CONSENT – JAMAICA

2.    VALET – USA

3.    GOLDEN BOY – UNITED KINGDOM

4.    WHAT WE DON’T SAY – SPAIN

5.    UNEXPECTED END – CANADA

6.    RED IS FOR ROSE – GHANA

 

 

BEST FILM IN EDITING

1.     FOUR QUARTERS – RUSSIAN FEDERATION

2.    A WARM CHRISTMAS – NIGERIA

3.    PREIPHERIC LOVE – SWITZERLAND

4.    JAGUN JAGUN – NIGERIA

5.    404.1 – MOROCCO

6.    DUTY - NIGERIA

7.    OVER THE BRIDGE – NIGERIA

8.    LUCY - A PIONEER DESTINY – ITALY

 

 

     

BEST STUDENT FILM

 

1.     THE PROPHESY – SENEGAL

2.    THE FEELINGS I WEAR – NIG/USA

3.    EVIL SPIRIT GET OUT – NIG

 

 

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR

 

1.     STREETS OF DECEIT – DAVE HAYLLAR

2.    OVER THE BRIDGE – OZY AGU – NIGERIA

3.    LUKAS - ALANJANDRO COOPER – NAMIBIA

4.    UNKNOWN PANDEMIC – JIDEKENE ACHUFUSI - NIGERIA

5.    KISUM – NOVO IMONIEROH – NIGERIA

6.    JAGUN JAGUN (THE WARRIOR) - FEMI LATEEF ADEBAYO – NIGERIA

7.    12 HOURS - STAN EZE – NIGERIA 

8.    LEO’S PARTY – AUTHUR FERREIRA – BRAZIL

 

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTRESS

 

1.     FROM EMBERS - KARA WANG – USA

2.    UNKNOWN PANDEMIC – KEHINDE BANKOLE – NIGERIA

3.    TENDER HEDGES – TANA EGBO ADELANA – NIGERIA

4.    THE UMESH CHRONICLES - AIZA KHAN – INDIA 

5.    THE THORNS - OMOWUNMI DADA -NIGERIA

6.    FOUR QUATERS - ANASTASIA ERMOSHINA – RUSSIAN FEDERATION

7.    404.1 - HASSNAA MOUMNI – M0ROCCO

8.    KAKA – FAIZAL ABDULLAHI – NIGERIA

9.    KISMET – LUM NORA NEBA – CAMEROON

 

 

OUTSTANDING IN FILM DIRECTING

 

1.     LUC WALPOTH – PERIPHERIC LOVE – SWITZERLAND

2.    TOPE ADEBAYO/ADEBAYO TIJANNI  - JAGUN JAGUN – NIGERIA

3.    404.1 – YOUNESS REGGAB – MOROCCO

4.    ROBERT PETERS – MENDING – NIGERIA

5.    EVGENYA TIRDATOVA - FOUR QUARTERS – RUSSIAN FEDERATION

6.     TOLULOPE AJAYI – OVER THE BRIDGE – NIGERIA

7.    NGANG ROMANUS NTSEH – KISMET – CAMEROON

 

 

OUTSTANDING MUSIC SCORE

 

1.     KISMET - CAMEROON

2.    TENDER HEDGES  - NIGERIA

3.    WIDOWS GIFT - GHANA

4.    TOMMOROW – NIGERIA

5.    RUNAWAY SPANNER – NIGERIA

6.    SODADE – CAPE VERDE

7.    KAKA – NIGERIA

8.    VAINGLORIOUS - USA

 

 

GOLDEN JURY FILM

 

1.     END OF TRIP SAHARA – SPAIN

2.    JAGUN JAGUN – NIGERIA

3.    404.1 – MOROCCO

4.    FOUR QUARTERS – RUSSIAN FEDERATION

5.    OVER THE BRIDGE – NIGERIA

6.    KISMET – CAMEROON

7.    KAKA – NIGERIA

 

 

7.      AIFF AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD

To be announced at the festival