The recently concluded 2nd The Annual Film Mischief (TAFM) was a celebration of eclectic films. The festival featured physical film screenings, a virtual day of virtual film screenings, Q&A sessions with filmmakers, and a groundbreaking FilmTech Conference (which included a VR experience).
The four-day festival, which took place in Lagos, Abuja, and Accra, Ghana, concluded on Sunday, April 30th, 2023, with the screening of Chude Jideonwo’s documentary Awaiting Trial.
During the award ceremony, outstanding filmmakers were recognised for their work. Several presenters, including filmmakers Tolu Ajayi and Oge Obasi, were summoned to do the honours with Chief Juror, Nwakaego Boyo, presenting the night’s most anticipated awards via virtual call.
Allen Onyige’s documentary Sunset in Makoko won four of the nine Grand Cheese Prizes for Best Editing, Best Directing, Best Cinematography, and Best Documentary.
Awaiting Trial by Chude Jideonwo won Best Feature, Broken Mask by Kagho Idhebor for Best Short Film and Best Film Poster, Emmanuel Mang Eme in Gold for Best Screenplay, and Chris Ikechi Anyanya for Best Acting Performance in Chukwu Martin’s We Are Not Men Anymore.
The festival attendees were not left out of the fun, as voting took place over the four-day event to determine which film would receive the Grand Mischief Prize (Audience Choice). Unlike the other nine awards, which had been personalised for their recipients, the Grand Mischief Prize would be left blank until a winner was selected. Seun Afolabi’s film, Atoka, was the belle of the ball.
Here is the full list of Grand Cheese Prize Winners below:
- Best Editing: Allen Onyige for “Sunset In Makoko.”
- Best Cinematography: Adeniyi “Taj” Joseph for “Sunset In Makoko.”
- Best Screenplay sponsored by Albantsho: Emmanuel Mang Eme for “Gold.”
- Best Film Poster: Niyi Okeowo for “Broken Mask.”
- Best Acting Performance: Chris Ikechi Anyanya for “We Are Not Men Anymore”
- Best Directing: Allen Onyige for “Sunset In Makoko.”
- Best Short Film (Narrative): “Broken Mask” by Kagho Idhebor
- Best Documentary: “Sunset In Makoko” by Allen Onyige
- Best Feature: “Awaiting Trial” by Chude Jideonwo
- Grand Mischief Prize (Audience Choice): “Atoka” by Seun Afolabi
Uche Chika Elumelu and Tomi Folowosele, the festival’s directors, thanked sponsors, media partners, festival participants, and attendees for their contributions to the festival’s success and brought out the festival team for a final bow for TAFM’23.
TAFM is a Film Rats programme that has been generously supported by Viva Cinemas Nigeria, Silverbird Cinemas Ghana, Impact Hub Lagos, Albantsho, mPharma, Uber Nigeria, and Cadbury PLC. Official media partners were Nollywire, BellaNaija, Nairametrics, WhatKeptmeUp, Phoenix Tribe Africa, In Nollywood, Nairametrics, Tech Economy, Radio Now, The Casting Place, Kraks TV, JB Multimedia Studios, VR360STORIES, Take One Productions, VOP TV, Tobide Productions, Coalians Photography, Jide Pounds Ibitoye, SwitchFocus, GhMovieFreak, and Games Hut.
The success of “Sunset In Makoko” at TAFM ’23 is a testament to the power of storytelling and the art of filmmaking, and we can’t wait to see what the next edition of the festival will bring.
