As the 9th Abuja International Film Festival opens today, filmmakers from the host country Nigeria and USA, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Taiwan, Israel, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Ghana and other countries are participating in the official competition and the Founder and Festival Director, Fidelis Duker told The Guardian of Nigeria that there will be over 70 screenings in the three day film festival with a special summit on the 20th Anniversary of Nollywood.

"We are very much ready for the 9th edition of the festival. It’s instructive to mention that our preparedness is very simple, as we don’t bite more than we can chew. We are prepared to host the world even with our challenge. It must be said that every year, AIFF comes out with a new flavour. This year we are celebrating Nollywood at 20 and part of the plan is a retrospective segment where films such as Living In Bondage, Ti Oluwa Nile, Unforgiven Sin, Rattle Snake, Silent Night and Circle of Doom will be screened. Also, we have introduced an industry focus segment. During the festival, Kannywood, the producers of Hausa films, will be our focus," Duker told Shaibu Husseini of The Guardian's Moviedom magazine.

9TH ABUJA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - 2012 OFFICIAL NOMINEES LIST


Best Feature Nigeria

1. Phone Swap – Kunle Afolayan
2. I will take my chances – Desmond Elliot
3. Married but Living Single – Tunde Olaoye
4. Holding Hope – Desmond Elliot
5. Jejeloye – James Muyiwa
6. True Citizens – Elvis Chuks

Best Feature Foreign

1. Brother – Venezuela
2. Marieke Marieke – Belgium
3. Without – USA
4. The Christening – Poland
5. Marhejaan - Bangladesh

Best Short Film Nigeria

1. Till Death Do Us Part – Tope Oshin Ogun
2. 500 Dollars - Mohammed Musulumi
3. Young Smoker – Tope Osin Ogun

Best Short Film Foreign

1. Double Happiness - Taiwan
2. Barefoot Humanity - Italy
3. Behind The Window – Lebanon
4. 0507 - UK
5. Zambezi News - Zimbabwe
6. The Substitute - Israel
7. Light Hearted Boy – Italy

Best Documentary

1. Goge Africa – Nigeria
2. Rent Boys – Germany
3. Sex In City – Zimbabwe
4. Ginger -

Best Experimental Film

1. Retribution – Nigeria
2. Game Over - Ghana
3. Campus Life – Zimbabwe

Best Animation Film

1. Mission – Nigeria
2. Zaniek Geliago – France
3. A Mysterious Fish - Spain
4. Losser Leg - Italy

Outstanding Male Act

1. Joseph Benjamin – Nigeria – Married But Living Single
2. Desmond Elliot - Nigeria – Holding Hope
3. Bryan Okwere – Nigeria – I will take my Chances
4. Ron Carrier –USA – Without
5. Wole Ojo – Nigeria – Phone Swap

Outstanding Female Act

1. Nse Ikpe Etim – Nigeria – Phone Swap
2. Uche Jombo – Nigeria – Holding Hope
3. Ini Edo – Nigeria – I will take my chances
4. Joselyn Jensen – USA - Without
5. Amara Amoji – Nigeria – Till Death Do Us Part

Outstanding Film In Directing

1. Holding Hope – Nigeria – Desmond Elliot
2. Phone Swap – Nigeria – Kunle Afolayan
3. Without – USA – Maric Jckson
4. Till Death Do Us Part – Nigeria – Tope Oshin Ogun
5. Married But Living Single - Nigeria – Tunde Olaoye

Golden Jury

1. Phone Swap – Nigeria
2. Without – USA
3. Married but Living and Single – Nigeria
4. Holding Hope - Nigeria
5. Maherjaan – Bangladesh
6. Double Happiness – Taiwan
7. Behind the Window - Lebanon

SOURCE: Nigerians Report

More details about the Abuja International Film Festival!