The 18th Abuja International Film Festival is pleased to announce the nominees for the 18th Abuja International Film Festival scheduled for the beautiful city of Abuja from 1st to 4th November 2021

A total of 1952 films were received from 61 countries as entries for the 18th edition and of these numbers 113 films were selected from the following genre of Features, Shorts, Documentaries, Experimental and animations.

According to Fidelia Duker, the Festival Officer Communication informed the media that the festival was excited to be back as a physical one after the 2020 edition that was pure hybrid and on virtual in its entirety.

According to her, the 2021 edition will be Physical with all COVID-19 protocols observed as a part of the festival will also be virtual.
This year the festival jury has chosen a total of 31 films and filmmakers as nominees who will be gunning for the different categories of the prestigious awards on the 4th of November 2021 in Abuja.

The nominees are as follows:
EFERE OZAKO OUTSTANDING EXPERIMENTAL FILM
ESCAPE FROM A GOOD PRISON – SLOVAKIA
AICHA’S DRESS – TUNISIA
THE TAILOR – ISREAL
SUPER DAD – UNITED STATES
BOY MEETS GIRL – NIGERIA
SELFTHERAPHY – BELGIUM
MARYAM – UNITED KINGDOM

OUTSTANDING SHORT FILM (NIGERIA)
I AM SOMEBODY – Tyna Ezenma
S O J A – peter fada
LAST STRAW – CHRIS IHEUWA
48 HOURS – Ben C Chiadike
THE NEW ANCESTORS – MNENA AKPERA
BOUND (LOST IN MOMENT) – Prince Augustine Egwuonwu
WHAT SHE WROTE – OKECHUKWU OKU

OUTSTANDING FEATURE FILM (FOREIGN)
LOVE LABORATORY – China – Muchao Wang, Fangmin Wang
SHAMBALA – kyrgyzstan – Artykpai Suyundukov
regret – mali – anas awal
H.P LOVECRAFT’S WITCH HOUSE – United States – Bobby Easley
ILLUSION – Cameroon – Slyvain B Boayaga
THERAPY – Cameroon – Anurin Nwunembom, Musing Derrick
LOST – Morocco – Driss Roukhe

SEGUN OLUSOLA OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY FILM
HOMO PEREGRINUS – Poland – Andrzej Swiech
GEORGE FLOYD: SAY THEIR NAMES – United States -Christopher R. Owens, Alyssa Dann(student)
THE HERO’S WALK – NIGERIA – TOLULOPE AWOBIYI
SEARCHING FOR WILLIAM – FRANCE – Saetbyeol Kim
LONLY TOGETHER – Indonesia – Rendro Aryo
GOLDEN FISH, AFRICAN FISH – Senegal – Thomas Grand, Moussa Diop Senegal
kashmiri pandit “the invincible refugees” 30 years in exile – india – sanjay raina

OUTSTANDING SHORT FILM (FOREIGN)
THE WHEEl – Turkey – Metin EWR
FIGHT BACK – Isreal – Loren Trabelsi
COLONIA – France – Thibault Rigaud
“FOUR MOTHERLESS CHILDREN” – United States – Ralph Isenberg, Joe De La Fuente
NORTH OF THE NIGHT – France – Olivier Simon
HELLO YESTERDAY (A short silent film) – United States – IMOLE LADIPO
BROTHER – Netherlands – Lisanne Sweere

OUTSTANDING FEATURE FILM (NIGERIA)
COAT OF ALMS Blessing Egbe
LOVE CASTLE Desmond Elliot
LOCKDOWN Moses Imwang
HOME SPRING’S ETERNAL Biodun Stephens
BALOKUN Olamide Wale Akinmolayan
THE STUDIO Muuyideen Sasiliu Ayinde,Wale Asifat,Wale Banjoko
BEN FROM DOWNSTAIRS ANITA Anwunah

OUTSTANDING STUDENT FILM
LONLY TOGETHER – Indonesia – Rendro Aryo
ESCAPE FROM A GOOD PRISON – slovakia – Erik Jasan
THE TAILOR – Isreal – Inbal Selah
HOME – China – Yang Yang
RUSSIAN NOVEL – Italy – Rossana Reccia, Alberto Vianello
COO-COO – RUSSIA – Svetlana Belorussova
STAGES – Nigeria – Spurgeon Obi-Eke

outstanding male actor
jide kosoko – nigeria – love castle
efa iwara – nigeria – lockdown heat
jacob ewang – cameroon – the last judgement
blossom chukwujekwu – nigeria – hope springs eternal
shawn faqua – nigeria – coat of alms
lateef adedimeji – nigeria – the studio

outstanding female actor
kehinde bankole – nigeria – love castle
wilette max kanlisou – benin – the king’s cane
jumoke odetola – nigeria – the studio
mouna rmiki – morocco – lost
juliet njemanze – nigeria – ben from downsrairs
nse ikpe etim – nigeria – the wait

outstanding film directing
blood hound – nuhu daylop – nigeria
theraphy – anurin nwunembom, musing derrick – cameroon
north of the night – oliver simon – france
balokun – olamide wale akinmolayan – nigeria
lockdown – moses inwang – nigeria
everywhere, anywhere – felipe ferreira paraguassu – china
love laboratory – muchao wang, fangmin wang – china
lost – driss roukhe – morocco

outstanding film music score
north of the night – france
ben from downstairs – nigeria
tara’s diary – nigeria
no1 – nigeria
edeleyo – nigeria
shambala – kyrgystan
coat of alms – nigeria

festival mention for narrativE
beatrice ogunmola – love castle – nigeria
chris iheuwa – end game – nigeria
oliver simon – north of the night – france
balokun – olamide akinmolayan – nigeria
edeleyo – gbovo eriamiantoe – nigeria
regret – anas mohammed – mali
24hrs in beijing – LAURENCE caroll brahm – usa
virago – kerli kirch schneider – estonia

aiff golden jury award
north of Night – france
love laboratory – china
love castle – nigeria
lockdown – nigeria
shambala – kyrgyztan
lost – morroco
balokun – nigeria
As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has put a strain on in-person film experiences, this is a great opportunity to better utilize digital resources. We also want to encourage filmmakers to engage in digital resources, especially online platforms like the hybrid screenings through our www.fad360tv.com.
According to Fidelia, she has promised an engaging experience at the festival this year.