The 2018 annual ZUMA Film Festival (ZUFF), Nigeria’s foremost film fiesta, has ended with a closing ceremony and gala awards night.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the grand finale was held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, with local and international filmmakers, actors, industry
watchers and other key stakeholders in attendance.
As expected, the last night of the 7–day fiesta saw the crème de la crème of the entertainment industry grace the red carpet, which preceded performances and presentation of awards.
It was a night of glitz and glamour, in colourful and festive ambience, which characterises gala nights, as series of electrifying performances by different artistes hit the stage.
High point of the ceremony was the presentation of competitive and non-competitive categories of awards, a feat every filmmaker and star look forward to in film festivals.
Mr Afolabi Adesanya, Chairman of the six-member jury for the ZUFF 2018 said, during the presentation of the Jury Report, that the festival received a total of 3,069 submissions from thirty-five countries.
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Adesanya explained that film entries were subsequently internally screened and pre-selected and 92 films in diverse categories were recommended to the Jury for adjudication.
“One unique features of our work is that the films were available online and we were able to preview the shortlisted selections weeks ahead of the Festival opening from the comfort of our homes and or offices.
“As a Jury, we were also sensitive to the yearnings, aspirations and sensibilities of every society, here represented by our dear country.
“We are aware that we are not just to adjudge the films, but also to advise the organisers and the festival on moral and ethical values which films are expected to strengthen, rather than denigrate.
“The Jury was able to screen the entries, assess the storyline and cinematic elements of each film, rank all entries and recommend some for the awards,” he said.
For his part, Dr Chidia Maduekwe, Chairman of the Organising Committee, noted that foreign participation in ZUFF 2018 surpassed that of 2017, describing it as an indication of international acceptance.
Maduekwe, who is the Managing Director of Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and organiser of ZUFF, said that the festival aimed to “redefine the need and potentials of audio visual archiving in Nigeria’’.
“Arising from the overall theme, 70 per cent of activities of the entire film festival centred on the theme “Archiving for Creativity.”
“The Objective was to ensure that discussions were focused -based and the outcomes, strictly also in focus.
“We have demonstrated the will and commitment to mount a film festival that will continue to provide the platform for robust engagement between Nigeria filmmakers and those from other nations,’’ he said. (NAN)
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