Feature films Habiba, and Songs of Rifles swept the awards at the sixth edition of the Kaduna Film Festival (KADIFF), while Nigerian films Bring Me Flowers and Lulu da Andalu , won the Best Short and Best Indigenous films.
Directed by Moroccan Ali Benjelloun , Habiba won the Best Feature Film, Best Cinematography and Best Director. Burkinabe film, Songs of Rifles’ Issaka Sawadogo, and Jean Elliot Ilboudo won the Best Actor and Best International Actor Foreign Film awards respectively.
Meantime, Nigerian films Bring Me Flowers by Prince Daniel, Kamilu Ibrahim Dan Hausa’s Lulu da Andalu and Oyetayo Raymond Ojoade’s The Hidden Crime: Violence Against Men won Best Short Film, Best Indigenous Film and the Outstanding Documentary awards.
Other winners at the festival include Beneath Beauty’s Namara Jolly (Best Actress), Nkugwa Shaffick’s No Way Out (Best Animation), Aditya Modak’s The Killer (Best Experimental), Tumanyane Andrew’s Beneath Beauty (Best International Foreign Film), Leonard Amanya’s Crystal Countless Misfortune for Jury Special Category for Best Educational Film, and Stephanie Tum of When The Levees Broke won the Jury Special Category for Best International Actress (Foreign Film).
Speaking of awarded films, member Board of Jurors, 6TH Edition of the KADIFF, Associate Professor Atul Marewad said they stood out for their exceptional storytelling, innovative cinematography and impeccable direction.
“These films seamlessly combine engaging narratives with artistic prowess, creating an immersive experience that resonates with audiences on multiple levels. They offer a perfect blend of entertainment, creativity and thought-provoking themes, leaving a lasting impact that sets them apart from others in their categories.
For the actors and actresses, Atul said, “their exceptional range and skills bring their characters to life, making them relatable and unforgettable for audiences. The jury was particularly impressed by their dedication to their craft viewers and elicit powerful reactions.”
The sixth Kaduna Film Festival held August 22 to 26th, 2023 at Alliance Francais, Kaduna State.