The 13th Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) concluded on Saturday with an exciting Globe Awards ceremony at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.
AFRIFF celebrates African storytelling through film, bringing together filmmakers, actors and industry leaders to showcase their works.
The award ceremony, packed with electrifying moments, was hosted by Nollywood stars Osas Ighodaro and Bovi. The red carpet was the highlight, with Osas dazzling in an eye-catching ensemble. At the same time, Nollywood favorites Ini Edo, RMD, Kunle Remi and Stan Nze added their flair, showcasing traditional and contemporary Nigerian styles.
The awards began with 160 film screenings; only 64 were nominated in various categories. Top honors went to Nigerian filmmaker Ifeoma Nkiruka Chukwuogo, whose film 'Phoenix Fury' won Best Picture and Best Director, earning a cash prize of N4.5 million.
'Phoenix Fury' tells the story of Ifatu, whose life is marked by hardships that lead her to seek revenge against Yali, the man who hurt her. Presented in four chapters, the film seamlessly shifts past and present, capturing Ifatu's struggles and his path to justice.
Chukwuogo directed the film, which stars notable Nollywood talents including Ama K. Abebrese, Ijeoma Grace Agu, Adjetey Anang, Onyinye Odokoro, Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD) and Uzoamaka Aniunoh.
AFRIFF 2024 Telling African stories
Themed “From Indigenous to Global: Cultural Wealth for Global Prosperity,” this year’s festival showcased Africa’s cinematic prowess, celebrated bold storytelling, and attracted numerous industry icons from across the continent and beyond. .
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At the ceremony, Chioma Ude, founder of AFRIFF, stated that “African cinema is evolving at an incredible pace, with Nigeria at the forefront of this renaissance.”
He added that this year's edition was designed to highlight the enormous opportunities for African films and storytelling to stay true to their cultural richness and reach global audiences. “We continually seek to inspire our storytellers to explore creative ideologies and techniques that connect with a global audience, and this year's winners have certainly achieved that.”
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the various performances from African countries by dancers and musicians from South Africa, Benin and Kenya. They highlighted the rich traditions of Nigeria: Hausa, Igbo, Urhobo and Yoruba.
Winners 2024
In addition to 'Phoenix Fury', the ceremony celebrated a wide range of notable films and performances, showcasing the rich tapestry of African storytelling.
Actress Uzoamaka Onuoha, who starred in 'Inside Life', won the Best Female Performance award for her role in 'Agemo', a supernatural drama directed by Moshood Abiola Obatula. 'Agemo' delves into themes of power, manipulation and resilience of women facing dark social challenges. Fast-rising actress Onuoha, who plays the title character, also starred in Blood Sisters (2022), If I Am President (2018) and Inside Life (2022).
The award for Best International Film went to 'Calladita (The Quiet Maid)', directed by Spanish Miguel Faus, while 'The Dead Man', by Bode Asiyanbi, took the award for Best Screenplay.
In documentaries, the South African 'Mother City', directed by Miki Redelinghuys, won the award for Best African Documentary and the American 'Memories of Love Returns' took the award for Best International Documentary.
Other notable mentions include 'Adunni' (Nigeria), which won N1.5 million for Best African Short Film, and 'Cookie Box' (Poland), also announced as Best International Short Film.
'Hadu' (Nigeria) won Best Animation. The animation, directed by Damilola Solesi, won $2,000 at the awards night. 'Last Minutes' by Nicole E. Emechebe (Nigeria) won the award for Best Student Short Film.
British-Nigerian rapper Skepta's film Tribal Mark won the Audience Choice Award. It is also Skepta's directorial debut.
Special recognition
The ceremony also saw the presentation of the new “Herbert Wigwe Trailblazer Awards”, which recognize excellence in various creative sectors. Ugo Mozie received the fashion award, while chef Tolu Eros was honored for his culinary achievements.
The AFRIFF 2024 jury consisted of Stephen 'Dr' Love, Ego Boyo, Dennis Ruh, Victor Okhai, Cynthia Okoye, Wafa'a Céline Halawi, Yolanda Mogatusi and Lanre Olupona.
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The jury's “Ambitious Work Award” went to 'Freedom Way', produced by Afolabi Olalekan. The winner received a mentoring program package along with a cash prize.
In the days leading up to the night, AFRIFF also hosted multiple masterclasses with industry leaders such as John Boyega and Skepta, who shared their insights with aspiring African filmmakers. This year's festival underlined AFRIFF's commitment to propelling African storytelling to the global stage, supported by partnerships with the United Kingdom, the United States and the French Embassy.