The 7th edition of the Africa International Film Festival, AFRIFF, came to a close last Saturday with its signature AFRIFF Globe Award which featured music, drama and most importantly, award presentations which held at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Describing the week-long activities, as simply splendid, AFRIFF founder, Chioma Ude, expressed gratitude to her team for being with her through seven years of organizing what she describes as one of the biggest film festivals in Africa.
Hosted by Nollywood actress, Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju, supported by a French counterpart, Serge Noukoue, convener of Nollywood Week Paris, the activities which kicked off with a saxophone rendition of the Nigerian national anthem, maintained AFRIFF’s tradition of hosting a Broadway-themed show.
Welcoming guests to the ceremony, AFRIFF’s Project Director, Afie Braimoh described the festival as a week of well planned events, training over 150 students, entertaining over 200 primary schools and educating many through topical panel discussions and of course, great parties.
“It’s been seven years and we want to thank our partners and sponsors who have come on this great journey with us. As always, AFRIFF aims to please,” she said.
With over three thousand entries which produced a thousand five hundred selections, the festival, witness a series of screenings, panel discussions, trainings and sessions for school kids.
After series of screenings, the Jury finally came up with winners for the AFRIFF Globe Award. Among them were; Best Student Short Film, The Fall (South Africa); Best Short Film, 1745 (UK); Best Documentary, We Have Never Been Kids; Audience Choice Award, Lost Café by Kenneth Gyang; Best French Language Film, Hulu (Mali); Oronto Douglas Memorial Award for Best Nigerian Film, Hakkunde (Nig); Best Screenplay, Dauda Coulibali (Hulu); Best Actor, Ibrahim Kumar (Hulu); Best Actress, Lydia Forson (Keteke); Best Director, Alian Gomis (Felicite); Best Film, I Am Not A Witch (Zambia).
One of the high points of the show was Kemi Lala’s rendition the late Brenda Fassie’s Vulindlela. Her entrance was themed after the classic movie, ‘Coming to America’.
source: http://www.informationng.com/2017/11/fun-rewards-afriff-2017-ends-globe-awards.html