Access Bank rewards African film making at AFRIFF 2018 Globe Awards

Adejuyigbe’s The Delivery Boy Wins Best Nigerian Film
Leading commercial bank, Access Bank Plc., in its commitment to the arts and entertainment industry, has honoured winners at the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) 2018 Globe Awards.

The exciting and innovative annual film festival, which seeks to bring the diversity of African films into one experience by screening vast film categories including feature films, documentaries, and short films, brought various film makers and actors around the continent to share their different film making and acting experiences.

The week-long festival, the 8th edition of the festival, with the theme The Many Faces of Woman’ analysed, celebrated and culminated with recognition for the work of filmmakers from across the African continent.

As official partners to the festival, Access Bank awarded winners across several categories with cash prizes. The award categories included Best Female Actor, Best Male Actor, Best Director, Best Animation, Best Short Film, Best Documentary and the Oronto Douglas Memorial Prize for Best Nigerian Film, among others. Also, scholarships were awarded to outstanding students from the talent development initiative of AFRIFF 2018.

Held at Twin Waters, Lekki, Lagos, the event was attended by celebrities from the film industry and other entertainment industry across the continent.

Speaking at the ceremony, Group Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank Plc, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, said: “Because we as Africans don’t know enough about ourselves, we often don’t trust one another, and it can lead to difficulty in doing business.

“The film industry allows us to know ourselves so much better, this week, I have met people from Rwanda, Cameroon and South Africa to name a few. There is so much that brings this continent together, and film is a wonderful vehicle for showcasing these things. We are here to empower AFRIFF year after year, because the work they do is important to celebrating works Born in Africa,” he added.

Wigwe further assured that through AFRIFF and other many more inspiring initiatives, Access Bank will continue to work with people and organizations who are showcasing the very best of the African continent and championing art and creativity born in Africa.

AFRIFF founder, Chioma Ude echoed Wigwe’s sentiments and further appreciated the support that the Bank has given to AFRIFF over the years.

Highpoint of the AFRIFF 2018 Globe Awards was an act by professional magicians, who thrilled the crowd with breath-taking performances, bringing the annual festival to a glorious close.

Personalities like Chioma Omeruah (Chigul), Lala Akindoju, Dede Michelle, Rita Dominic, Ini Edo, Uche Jombo, Kemi Adetiba, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Kunle Afolayan, Charles Novia, Ego Boyo were among some of those who attended the event.

Meanwhile, the Delivery Boy, a feature-length from Adekunle ‘Nodash’ Adejuyigbe, won the Best Nigerian Film award at the just concluded African International Film Festival (AFRIFF).

The multiple award-winning film is about Amir, runaway teenage suicide bomber and his new found ally, a young prostitute, who must rely on each other to survive the night while searching for answers to unravel the terrible secrets that made them who they are.

Their journey takes them through the underbelly of the city exposing the hidden backside of the African society and its dangerous culture of silence in the presence of evil.

Since its release, the film has been screened at the African Film Festival in New York; Nollywood Week Paris; Lake International Pan African Film Festival; Real Time International Film Festival, where it also won the Best Supporting Actor award, and Lights Camera Africa Film Festival, Lagos among others.

Representing the new wave of Nollywood filmmakers, Adejuyigbe is at the forefront of a movement of young and globally respected filmmakers telling rich and relatable African stories through ‘Nigerian Cinema’ – staying true to world-class cinematic storytelling and technical standards.

In 2015, he was shortlisted as one of the 21 emerging cinematographers from all over the world by the Berlin film festival. He has shot several TV commercials, a few music videos, a number of documentaries and a handful of films and TV series.

He has won a number of awards for his work, including Best Directing for a Musical (In-short International Film Festival); Best Cinematography (Nollywood Travel Festival); Best Editor (In-short International Film Festival); Best Cinematography (Nigerian Music Video Awards) and Best Editor (Nigerian Movie Awards).

Something Unusual Studios is a film production and film services company based in Lagos. The production outfit has been in operation since 2013.

Adejuyigbe said, “Our vision is to become the face of African entertainment by maintaining the highest production standards possible in the creation of original African stories for local and international distribution.”

“Something Unusual Studios creates contents that are captivating from start to finish, our primary goal is to highlight every story at its finest and transform it into films that are inspiring, moving and astonishing. It is our objective to reach audiences on every level, so once we establish the goal of every project, our team of directors, cinematographers and technical support staff (The Elite Film Team) brings the idea to life. We consistently provide a level of creative story telling that is incomparable to any film company in Nigeria,” he added.