The Filmjoint Awards held its inaugural awards ceremony in celebration of excellence in the making of short films, at the EbonyLife Place in Lagos.
The annual event contained 17 unique award categories, with 40 nominated short films and short documentary films and a total 110 nominees across all categories.
In attendance at the occasion were notable filmmaking veterans and media stakeholders, which included prominent filmmaker and CEO of Sozo Films, Chris Odeh; CEO of Trino Motion Pictures, Babatunde Aderinokun; executive producer of Mami Wata, Mautin Olorunleke; and filmmakers Bimbo Ademoye and Goodness Emmanuel. The event was also graced by several up-and-coming filmmakers.
The core of the event included the screening of different short films in-between award category presentations, with the climax being the screening of the winner for Best Indigenous Short Film Category, Ihunanya’m.
The vision of The Filmjoint is to recognize and establish a market for short films, popularizing and celebrating outstanding works and filmmakers in this regard. Its initiative, The Filmjoint Awards, creates a suitable platform for motivating filmmakers of short films to continually maintain excellence, providing them with the opportunity for due recognition and financial rewards for their commitment to the craft.
Here is the full list of award winners.
BEST PICTURE
If not Freedom – Produced by Colette Brown, Tevin Sahota, Will Amorim Masheter (UK)- WINNER
Bugs’s Bunny – Produced by Carl Z. Seibel (US)
Traffick Me – Produced by Rhoda Seun Olowu (NG)
3.15am – Produced by Pradip Amin, Amit Patel (India)
Ihunanya’m – Produced by Heavens Obule, Abiodun Odu (NG)
Kill The Impostor – Produced by Joshua Olaolu, Adeniyi Joseph Omobulejo (NG)
The Perfect Knight – Produced by Stephanie Alexandre (UK)
BEST AFRICAN FILM
Tohazie, The Red Hunter – GHANA
Ihunanya’m – Nigeria
Traffick Me – Nigeria
My Mama Na Ashawo – Nigeria (WINNER)
Cleaners – South Africa
Kill The Impostor – Nigeria
BEST DIRECTOR
Traffick Me – Directed by Adenrele Owen Olowu (WINNER)
Kill The Impostor – Directed by Adeniyi Joseph Omobulejo
My Mama Na Ashawo – Directed by Nwamaka Chikezie
Ihunanya’m – Directed by Abiodun Odu
Purple Story – Directed by Ahmed Korede Yinusa
Prey – Directed by Ese Ariremu
BEST INDIGENOUS FILM (NIGERIA)
Ihunanya’m – Directed by Abiodun Odu (WINNER)
My Mama Na Ashawo – Directed by Nwamaka Chikezie
SÈBLÁ – Directed by Viyon eso Awhanse
Boju-Boju – Directed by Tobi Adekunle Daniels
Prey – Directed by Ese Ariremu
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
In the Stillness – In The Stillness
Ihunanya’m – Sharon Akinsola
My Mama Na Ashawo – Chris Eneh
Kill The Impostor – Emaduku Oghenetejiri (WINNER)
Read My Body – Gobum Rotdung Panchen
Traffick Me
Tamed – Etienne Benedict
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
If not Freedom – United Kingdom (WINNER)
3.15am – INDIA
Bugs’s Bunny – United States
The Internet Remains Undefeated – United Kingdom
Selfie Control – United Kingdom
The Perfect Knight – United Kingdom
BEST SOUND OVERALL
Kill The Impostor – Olushola Adekoya
Traffick Me – Adeboye Banjo (WINNER)
SÈBLÁ – Tunmise Daniel, Fisayo Adefolaju
Boju-Boju – Chorrie Eugene Muta’a
Read My Body
Ihunanya’m
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Traffick Me – Adenrele Owen Olowu
In the Stillness – Stephanie She Ifendu
Kill The Impostor – Adeniyi Joseph Omobulejo (WINNER)
Ihunanya’m – David Sawyerr
My Mama Na Ashawo – Joshua Ice Dauda
Read My Body – George Joel
Bait – Okoh Loveth Maduabuchi
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Ihunanya’m – Vivian Bassey
My Mama Na Ashawo – Chris Eneh (WINNER)
In the Stillness – Barrie Oladipo
Read My Body – Theo-Ziny Joel
Strength of a Woman – Enun Couture
Kill The Impostor – Olamide Awodire
BEST FILM EDITING
Traffick Me – Adenrele Owen Olowu (WINNER)
Kill The Impostor – Adeniyi Joseph Omobulejo
In the Stillness – Vanti Adeokun
Ihunanya’m – Victory Onyegbule, James Agu
Bait – Michael Akindeloyin
Read My Body – Theo-Ziny Joel
Purple Story – Ahmed Korede Yinusa
Venj
BEST SCREENPLAY (ORIGINAL OR ADAPTED)
Kill The Impostor – Adeniyi Joseph Omobulejo
Traffick Me – Adenrele Owen Olowu
Ihunanya’m – Fisayo Ojabodu (WINNER)
My Mama Na Ashawo – Brenda Ogbukaa Garuba
Strength of a Woman – Omobolanle Ladoja, Iyke Osoka, Etta JoMaria
BEST MAKE-UP/SFX
Bait – Iwatt Emila Kenneth (WINNER)
Ihunanya’m – Vivian Bassey
Traffick Me – Wisdom Ananaba
Boju-Boju – Retyit Idi Damulum, Barry Alice Fidelis
Read My Body – Benita Bam’mun Mathew
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Ihunanya’m – Chikamma R.C (WINNER)
My Mama Na Ashawo – Annointed Augustine
Last Tango in Abuja – Preach Bassey
Risk Men Take – Grey Chidi Maha
Prey – Solomon Madu
Collide – Myde Glover
No Be So – Frank Eric
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Traffick Me – Victory Emodi (WINNER)
Kill The Impostor – Susan Echa
Ihunanya’m – Celia Okechukwu
Last Tango in Abuja – Ruth Nkweti
Venj – Rose Okeke
Strength of a Woman – Etta JoMaria
Purple Story – Ruby Chinaza Akubueze
Omozi – Teniola Aladese
BEST STUDENT FILM
Warped – Directed by ‘Dimeji Ogunranti (Nigeria) – WINNER
Amy’s House – Directed by Jude Schabort (South Africa)
The Funeral – Directed by Ashimedua Ruth ODIACHI, GODWIN NZEKWE (Nigeria)
Murder is Art – Directed by Jamie Franks (South Africa)
Full Circle – Directed by Reginald JUMBO, Kenneth IGWE (Nigeria)
ORGANIC – Directed by Bryce Donson (Nigeria)
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
Baghdad Graphics – Directed by D.k. Odessa (Iraq)- WINNER
Untold African Stories – Directed by Alex Tackle (Namibia)
The Only Black Mark in an Infinite White – Directed by Eren Ozkaradeniz (Turkey)
Big Dreams – A tale of resilience – Directed by Twamsan Danaan (Nigeria)
El Canto del Quetzal – Directed by Austin Faust (United States)
On Your Own– Directed by Daniel Itegboje (Nigeria)
ProBoots – Directed by Thuso Desmond Mogotsi (South Africa)
JURY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING STORYTELLING
If not Freedom – Directed by Will Amorim Masheter (UK)
3.15am – Directed by Amit Raj Verma (INDIA)
Traffick Me – Directed by Adenrele Owen Olowu (NG)- WINNER
Bugs’s Bunny – Directed by Carl Z. Seibel (US)
Kill The Impostor – Directed by Adeniyi Joseph Omobulejo (NG)
Ihunanya’m – Directed by Abiodun Odu (NG)