13th December, 2023
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Filmmaker and producer Wale Adenuga (MFR), among others, has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Awards at the maiden edition of the African Cultural Film Festival, AFFRICUFF, held recently in Houston, Texas.
Adenuga, the famous creator of popular TV series Binta and Friends, Papa Ajasco,’ Super Story, and Akpan & Udeme, was honored alongside prolific filmmaker and director Blessing Effiom Egbe, while Nkem Denchukwu was rewarded with a special industry recognition award.
The honour was bestowed on the film producers in recognition of their immense contribution to the development of the African film sector.
The award ceremony climaxed the four-day event that was held from October 26 to 29, at Emem Isong’s Royal Arts Centre in Houston, Texas.
The festival immersed participants in four days of cinematic fervour, fostering a tapestry of film-related dialogues, immersive movie screenings, critical analysis of films and documentaries, networking opportunities among filmmakers and creatives as well as well-deserved recognition of exemplary films and practitioners.
The opening ceremony was hosted by O.J Adaba and Mia Black with attendance by top African actors and producers including Majid Michel, Uzodinma Okpechi, Moses Efret, Ikechukwu Onyeka, Uche Jombo, Chioma Chukwuka, Bayo Alawiye, Bukky Fagbuyi, Merlisa Determined, Grace Charis Bassey, Bola Aduwo, Nkem Den Chukwu, Dr. Chisom Oz-lee, Eva Banks, Bode Ojo, Ifeoma Ojukwu, Udeme Ekoriko, and Ubong Eton.
The ceremony set the tone for the other days where African films and cultures were showcased to the world.
The screening of the opening film, ‘Jagun Jagun,’ produced by Femi Adebayo, enraptured the audience, setting the stage for what was to be an enthralling event.
Throughout the festival, Affricuff transcended mere spectacle, morphing into a conduit for cultural exchange. Beyond its role as a celebration of cinema, Affricuff emerged as a platform bridging the chasm between global audiences and the storytellers of Africa. Embodying the theme ‘Thinking Local, Going Global,’ the festival stood as a testament to the extraordinary talents of African filmmakers, amplifying their voices and narratives on an international stage.
Discussions, steeped in the festival’s theme, reverberated through each day.
Topics such as ‘Film Making in the Diaspora & on the Continent: The Experience’ and ‘How African Films Have Influenced Social & Political Change in Society’ ignited impassioned exchanges, as filmmakers and audiences alike fervently delved into these subjects. Affricuff emerged not only as a showcase of cinematic prowess but as a forum for robust discourse, nurturing a deeper understanding of African storytelling and its global impact.
The crescendo of the event unfurled during the Closing Ceremony and Awards Night, the list of nominees specially screened & nominated by a panel of eminent judges, befittingly headed by film curator Dr Shaibu Hussein, was indeed a befitting denouement to an enchanting affair.
The screening of the closing film, ‘Kamsi,’ directed by the talented Uzodinma Okpechi, culminated in a moment of triumph as Okpechi clinched the ‘Best Director’ award.