Nigerian filmmaker Dika Ofoma’s upcoming feature, ‘Kachifo’ (Till the Morning Comes)’, has made a remarkable sweep at the Locarno Film Festival’s Open Doors initiative, taking home three major awards, including the prestigious Open Doors Grant.
The main award of the Open Doors initiative was shared by three projects this year: ‘Black Snake’ by Naishe Nyamubaya (Zimbabwe), ‘Kachifo’ by Ofoma, and ‘Diary of a Goat Woman’ by Azata Soro (Ivory Coast/Burkina Faso). Traditionally a CHF 50,000 grant sponsored by Visions Sud Est and the City of Bellinzona, the award was split between the winners: ‘Black Snake’ received CHF 25,000, ‘Kachifo’ landed CHF 20,000, and ‘Diary of a Goat Woman’ took CHF 5,000.
The jury praised ‘Kachifo’, produced by Blessing Uzzi, for “an original narrative structure, where two layers are closely connected… a film about love” whose complex approach promises a powerful big-screen experience.
The project also won the €6,000 ARTEKino International Award, described by the jury as “a bold and poetic first feature… a plaidoyer for true love – the quintessential subject of cinema – across time and above all borders.”
Completing the hat trick, ‘Kachifo’ received the Sørfond Award, which comes with an invitation to pitch at the Sørfond event in November, including travel and accommodation. The Sørfond jury commended the project’s “poetic, visually and narratively ambitious” storytelling, noting its exploration of “undying love that holds through lifetimes despite cultural and religious opposition” in a context where same-sex relationships remain taboo in Nigeria.
Speaking on the wins, Ofoma said it was unexpected but validating. “I have always believed in the story of ‘Kachifo’ and I’m so happy that more people are becoming believers as well. The wins at Locarno encourage me to continue to work on it until the day we finally release it to the world.”
‘Kachifo’, which has been described as a reincarnation romance, marks a growing creative partnership between the director and producer Blessing Uzzi, who have been steadily forming a winning tag team.
The Locarno recognition comes as Ofoma continues to ride the wave of his recent Zikoko short film ‘Something Sweet’, which has been warmly received for its heartfelt storytelling. With its triple win at Locarno, ‘Kachifo’ cements Ofoma and Uzzi’s status as one of Nigerian cinema’s most exciting director–producer duos to watch
